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A Reclining Nude with Her Right Arm Raised over a Swift Composition Study [verso]

Jean-Baptiste Deshays

1763

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Nude

Dominant colour

A Reclining Nude with Her Right Arm Raised over a Swift Composition Study [verso] is a 1763 chalk by Jean-Baptiste Deshays, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jean-Baptiste Deshays
When & what style?: 1763 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows a woman lying down on a couch or bed, her right arm raised above her head. The lines are loose and sketchy, with quick strokes that feel almost like scribbles. There’s a hint of red chalk in a few spots, adding a faint warmth to the mostly grayish-brown paper. The artist seems to have been working fast, capturing movement more than details. The background is just swirling lines—no real setting, just energy. If you like this sketchy style, check out Deshays, Jean-Baptiste.