Sketch, Classical Male Figure in Landscape
1820â1850
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
Accession Number
1938-88-8374
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Fortunato Duranti’s “Sketch, Classical Male Figure in Landscape” captures the enduring appeal of classical ideals in early nineteenth-century Italy. Created between 1820 and 1850, the drawing reflects the period’s fascination with ancient Greek and Roman forms, a hallmark of the Neoclassical movement that continued to influence artists even as Romantic sensibilities began to emerge. Duranti, who lived from 1787 to 1863, used the medium of drawing to explore the human figure set against an evocative natural setting, blending idealized anatomy with atmospheric surroundings. As a preparatory or ...