Academie (639)

Art Historical Context

**Académie (639)**, created around 1785, is a striking print by engraver Gilles-Antoine Demarteau after the renowned French sculptor Edme Bouchardon (1698–1762). Bouchardon, a leading figure in 18th-century neoclassicism, was celebrated for his precise anatomical studies and sculptures like the Fontaine des Quatre-Saisons in Paris. Demarteau faithfully reproduced one of Bouchardon's académie drawings—a standard male nude pose used in European art academies for training draftsmen in human anatomy and proportion. The work's medium, chalk manner (also called crayon manner) printed in red on laid paper, showcases Demarteau's pioneering technique. Invented in the 1750s, this intaglio process used textured roulettes to mimic the soft, velvety strokes of chalk or pastel, bridging drawing and printmaking. Printed in sanguine red, it evokes life drawing sessions, making high-quality reproductions accessible to students and collectors. As part of the National Gallery of Art's Ellwanger/Mescha Collection (Department CG-E), this print highlights the era's emphasis on classical ideals amid the Enlightenment. It reflects how such studies fueled the academic rigor of French art, influencing generations before the Revolution reshaped artistic training. *(198 words)*