A Seated Man Nude and then Clothed
Medium
graphite with white heightening on tan wove paper
Dimensions
sheet: 21.8 x 28.2 cm (8 9/16 x 11 1/8 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
2010.68.1
Art Historical Context
Gustav Heinrich Naeke’s “A Seated Man Nude and then Clothed,” created in the 1820s, offers a fascinating glimpse into the academic practice of figure drawing during the early nineteenth century. Executed in graphite with white heightening on tan wove paper, the sheet measures just over eight by eleven inches, allowing the artist to explore both the human form and its draped counterpart within a single composition. This dual presentation was a common teaching exercise, helping artists master anatomy before addressing the complexities of clothing and drapery. The medium itself enhances the stud...