Cinerary Urn, after the Antique

Art Historical Context

Nicolas Poussin, the preeminent French artist of the 17th century and a master of classical Baroque style, created this meticulous drawing titled *Cinerary Urn, after the Antique*. Dating to the 17th–19th century, it captures the intricate details of an ancient Roman funerary urn, reflecting Poussin's deep fascination with Greco-Roman antiquity. As a scholar-artist in Rome, Poussin frequently studied and copied classical artifacts to inform his paintings, blending archaeological precision with idealized beauty. This work exemplifies his role in the Renaissance revival of ancient forms, bridging antiquity and the emerging neoclassical taste. Executed in pen and brown ink with brush and brown wash over black chalk, the drawing showcases Poussin's virtuoso technique: delicate lines define ornate motifs like chickens, eagles, rams' heads, and expressive faces, evoking the urn's symbolic funerary purpose—eternal life, strength, and vigilance. Measuring 11 1/4 x 8 3/4 inches, its compact scale invites close inspection, revealing the subtle tonal washes that mimic stone's texture and depth. A gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from Cornelius Vanderbilt in 1880, this piece highlights the 19th-century American passion for European masterpieces. For visitors, it offers a window into how artists like Poussin preserved classical heritage, influencing everything from architecture to modern design.

About the Artist

Nicolas Poussin · 1594–1665

Nicolas Poussin, born in June 1594 near Les Andelys in Normandy, emerged from a family of local distinction whose modest means and parental opposition could not deter his artistic calling. He received his initial training under the itinerant painter Quentin Varin in Rouen around 1611–12, absorbing lessons in storytelling, precise facial expressions, and rich colors, though without a formal long-te...