Seated and Standing Male Nudes, after photographs by Eugène Durieu

Seated and Standing Male Nudes, after photographs by Eugène Durieu is a significant graphite drawing created by Eugène Delacroix in 1855. Executed with precise, deliberate lines, this study captures two academic male nudes, a standing figure and a seated figure, positioned dynamically across the sheet. This period marked a pivotal moment in Delacroix's career, as he began heavily integrating photographic sources into his preparatory process, seeking alternatives to the laborious practice of traditional life drawing.

Delacroix commissioned the photographer Eugène Durieu to produce a series of poses académiques specifically to aid his painting studies, including figures intended for his grand murals at the Salon de la Paix in the Hôtel de Ville (a work tragically destroyed by fire in 1871). By using photography, Delacroix could study the structure and volume of the male form indefinitely, allowing him to concentrate entirely on anatomical accuracy, shadow, and contour without the constraints of a live model.

Delacroix’s practice of transcribing the photographic image onto paper illustrates his commitment to realism tempered by classical study. Although this innovative technique initially drew criticism, the resulting studies, like Seated and Standing Male Nudes, served as vital foundational elements for his large-scale compositions. Many of these foundational works are now available as public domain prints, showcasing the artist’s mastery of the human figure. This drawing remains an excellent testament to Delacroix's experimental spirit and is preserved in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.