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Male Nude Study

Anton Raphael Mengs

1778

chalk

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Nude

Dominant colour

Male Nude Study is a 1778 chalk by Anton Raphael Mengs, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Anton Raphael Mengs
When & what style?: 1778 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a man’s back and side, standing with one leg bent and arms resting behind his head. The lines are loose but careful, marking muscles and curves in soft graphite. The paper has a faint blue tint, and the edges look worn. The artist focused on how light and shadow shape the body, leaving some areas darker to show depth. It looks like a quick study, maybe for a bigger painting. Try looking up chiaroscuro next to see how artists use light and shadow like this.