Studies of a Leg, Foot, Arms, Hands, and a Baby
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-437-15
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Pierre Thomas Le Clerc, a French artist active from around 1740 to 1796, created *Studies of a Leg, Foot, Arms, Hands, and a Baby* in 1773. This print captures the artist's keen focus on human anatomy through detailed sketches of isolated body parts, including a tender depiction of a baby. Such studies were a cornerstone of artistic training in 18th-century Europe, allowing draftsmen to master proportion, movement, and realism before tackling full compositions. In the context of Enlightenment-era France, Le Clerc's work reflects the period's growing emphasis on empirical observation and scien...