Roman Statue of a Muse (Anchyrrhoe)

The work titled Roman Statue of a Muse (Anchyrrhoe) by Jacques-Louis David is a meticulous drawing executed in pen and black ink with a gray wash on laid paper. Although David was born in 1748, the piece relates stylistically and contextually to the broader French cultural and academic period spanning 1726 to 1750, a time characterized by rigorous drawing requirements and the study of antique sculpture. This technical approach, typical of preparatory studies, highlights the artist's early mastery of line and shadow, essential skills developed before he became the preeminent master of the later Neoclassical movement.

The subject is a faithful rendering of a classical sculpture, representing a Muse, often identified as Anchyrrhoe. Such detailed copying of classical statuary was a cornerstone of academic training, especially for French students aspiring to the Prix de Rome. David used the delicate application of the gray wash to model the volume and texture of the stone, giving the flat surface a highly sculptural quality. This focus on precision and idealized form demonstrates the foundational skills underpinning the artist’s later monumental history paintings.

Classified simply as a Drawing, this study provides vital insight into the meticulous preparation underlying David’s significant output across his long career, 1748-1825. It underscores the transition from the Rococo style of early 18th-century France toward the severity and moral clarity associated with Neoclassicism. The original work is housed in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to its age and historical importance, high-quality prints and reproductions of this foundational study are now frequently available through public domain art initiatives, ensuring continued access to David's rigorous drawing methodology.