Studies of a Draped Female Figure, Kneeling, Seen from the Back, for the East Transept of the Chruch of Sainte-Clothilde, Paris

Art Historical Context

Henri Lehmann's *Studies of a Drap Female Figure, Kneeling Seen from the Back*1858) is a delicate preparatory drawing for the grand decorations in the East Trpt of Paris's Church of Sainte-Clothilde, Gothic Revival masterpiece completed in the mid-19th century. As a of the esteemed Neoclassicist Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, embodied the academic tradition of meticulous figure studies, capturing the fluid folds of drapery on a kneeling woman—likely an allegorical or saintly figure destined for a monumental mural. This intimate sheet, now at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, reveals the artist's process in bridging classical idealism with the era's religious fervor. Executed in rubbed charcoal for soft, atmospheric modeling and graphite for precise contours on off-white laid paper, the work measures just 11-3/4 x 8-1/2 inches, highlighting Lehmann's mastery of monochrome techniques. The rear view emphasizes volume and texture, showcasing how 19th-century French artists refined poses through multiple sketches before scaling up to frescoes or oils. Gifted to the Met in 1998, this drawing offers visitors a window into the collaborative world of ecclesiastical art, where technical precision met spiritual symbolism during France's Second Empire.

About the Artist

Henri Lehmann · 1814–1882

French, Kiel 1814–1882 Paris