Study for the Wife and Daughters of Brutus (recto); Study of a Male Nude (verso)

Study for the Wife and Daughters of Brutus (recto); Study of a Male Nude (verso) by Jacques Louis David is an important preparatory drawing executed in red chalk between 1783 and 1793. David created this detailed study in anticipation of one of his most significant Neoclassical paintings, The Lictors Bring to Brutus the Bodies of His Sons (1789). These preliminary drawings are essential for understanding David’s methodical process of constructing monumental historical compositions that championed Roman virtue and civic sacrifice. The recto side focuses intensely on the arrangement of the draped female nudes who embody the profound grief of the Roman family, illustrating David's commitment to idealized form and controlled dramatic expression.

The use of red chalk allows David to achieve subtle variations in shadow and volume, modeling the figures' anatomy with academic precision. The study of the female figures was crucial for establishing the final poses and heavy drapery seen in the masterpiece. The verso, featuring a Study of a Male Nude, demonstrates the artist’s commitment to anatomical mastery, a foundational element of his revolutionary approach to history painting. These rigorous anatomical explorations ensured that the finalized composition conveyed the requisite tension between Roman stoicism and personal tragedy.

As a vital artifact of the Neoclassical period and part of the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this work offers scholars crucial insights into the draftsmanship of one of the 18th century's most influential artistic figures. Today, high-resolution prints of David’s influential drawings are increasingly available through public domain initiatives, furthering appreciation for his rigorous preparation.