Seated Male Nude [recto]

James Goodwyn Clonney

1832

graphite

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Nude

About this work

This sketch shows a shirtless man sitting on the ground with his legs stretched out. His arms rest on his knees, and his head tilts slightly to the side. The lines are loose and quick, giving the figure a rough, sketchy feel. The drawing looks like a practice study—maybe for a bigger painting. The artist focused on getting the body’s shape right, not details. If you like this style, check out Romanticism next.