Studies of a Male Figure
1776 to 1800
Medium
graphite on wove paper
Dimensions
overall: 7 x 9.7 cm (2 3/4 x 3 13/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of William B. O'Neal
Accession Number
1995.52.83
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
William Henry Hunt’s “Studies of a Male Figure” is a delicate graphite drawing on wove paper created between 1776 and 1800. Measuring only 7 by 9.7 centimeters, intimate scale suggests it was as a private sketch rather than a finished exhibition piece. The compact format allowed the artist to record quick observations of the human form, capturing posture, proportion, and subtle modeling with economical strokes. Graphite on wove paper was prized in the late eighteenth century for its smooth surface and ability to hold fine detail, making it ideal for academic figure studies. Such drawings form...
About the Artist
William Henry Hunt · 1790–1864
Comment on works: Still life; Genre; Landscapes