Study of a youth
1854
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1854
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Study of a youth is a 1854 by J Havard Thomas, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This sketch shows a young man lifting a barbell with both hands. He’s shirtless, wearing loose pants tied at the waist, and standing barefoot. The lines are light and quick, focusing on how his muscles move as he strains. The artist used simple shading to show weight and effort, not fancy details. This style fits a time when artists studied real bodies, not just ideas. Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this.
J. Havard Thomas made carefully observed figure drawings in the late 1800s. His Study of a youth (1854-1921) is a pencil drawing that captures a young model’s relaxed posture with delicate cross-hatching. The work shows…
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