Perseus and the Gorgon's Head

Perseus and the Gorgon's Head by Style of Jacques Louis David French, 1748-1825, is a masterful example of French drawing dating from the crucial period of early Neoclassicism, circa 1765-1775. This study captures the heroic moment from classical mythology, favoring a subject of high moral and dramatic intensity, a hallmark of the new aesthetic sweeping through France.

The work is executed primarily in black chalk on ivory laid paper. This careful support was subsequently laid down onto ivory wove paper, a practice indicating the value placed on preparatory studies and finished drawings during this era. The technique relies on strong linear definition and deep shadows to provide volume and anatomical clarity to the figure of Perseus, emphasizing the sculptural ideal favored by David and his contemporaries. This rigorous academic approach was foundational to the influential art training systems in France during the mid-eighteenth century.

The dynamic pose and precise rendering underscore the transition away from the Rococo toward the severe clarity of Neoclassicism. Although attributed to the style of David, this piece provides valuable insight into the drawing methods that shaped the most revolutionary artistic output of the period. Today, this drawing resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, serving as an important historical reference. High-resolution images and prints of significant drawings like this are increasingly made accessible, sometimes through public domain initiatives, allowing scholars and enthusiasts worldwide to study the foundations of the Neoclassical movement.