Standing Academic Male Nude (recto); Sketch of Upper Arm (verso)

The drawing Standing Academic Male Nude (recto); Sketch of Upper Arm (verso) by Eugène Delacroix (French, 1798-1863), created in 1816, serves as a crucial document of the artist’s foundational training. Executed on dark tan laid paper, the primary image on the recto uses black chalk and charcoal applied with stumping, dramatically heightened with white chalk. This exacting technique was employed to emphasize the muscular definition and volume of the male figure, demonstrating the foundational importance of life drawing during the academic curriculum in early 19th-century France.

Completed when the artist was only eighteen, this piece reflects the obligatory practice of drawing from the live model, a core requirement for aspiring masters studying the human form. The meticulous rendering of the figure on the recto contrasts sharply with the rapid, preparatory work on the verso, which features a quick sketch focusing solely on the upper arm. The handling of the medium reveals Delacroix’s developing mastery of chiaroscuro; the contrast between deep, velvety charcoal shadows and luminous white highlights anticipates the dramatic effects he would later achieve in his mature Romantic compositions.

Although primarily celebrated for his vast canvases and vibrant oil paintings, this drawing is crucial for understanding the technical origins of Delacroix's genius. The work is a significant artifact documenting the rigorous academic tradition in France leading into the Romantic era. Today, this masterwork resides in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As the image of Standing Academic Male Nude (recto); Sketch of Upper Arm (verso) falls within the public domain, high-quality prints and reproductions are widely accessible for scholarly study and general appreciation.