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Academy (642)

Gilles-Antoine Demarteau

1776

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Nude

Dominant colour

Academy (642) is a 1776 chalk by Gilles-Antoine Demarteau, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Gilles-Antoine Demarteau
When & what style?: 1776 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a naked man standing sideways, one arm stretched out in front of him. His body is drawn with loose, sketchy lines that emphasize muscles and movement. The background is a rough, textured wash of red-brown, almost like a faded curtain. The artist focused on quick, expressive strokes rather than perfect detail. This style was common in early studies or practice drawings. Next, look up *chiaroscuro* to see how light and shadow create drama in art.