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Seated Satyr Leaning Backward [recto]

Jean-Baptiste Deshays

1762

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Nude

Dominant colour

Seated Satyr Leaning Backward [recto] is a 1762 chalk by Jean-Baptiste Deshays, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Jean-Baptiste Deshays
When & what style?: 1762 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a naked man sitting on the ground, leaning back with one arm stretched up. His body is relaxed but muscular, with quick, loose lines marking his legs and torso. The paper has a warm brown tone, and the artist used dark chalk and white highlights to give his skin a soft, three-dimensional look. The drawing feels alive because of how the artist captured movement—even though the figure isn’t doing much, the lines suggest energy. The rough, sketchy style makes it look like a quick study, not a finished piece. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how light and shadow create depth in drawings like this.