Studies of Nudes

Art Historical Context

Henry Fuseli, a pioneering figure in the Romantic movement, renowned for his dramatic, otherworldly depictions of the human form, often inspired by Shakespeare, mythology, and the supernatural. This intimate *Studies of Nudes*n.d.), housed in the Art Institute of's Prints and Drawings department exemplifies his fascination with muscular, contorted figures. Rendered in black crayon or charcoal on fragment of tan laid paperrecto) with a graphite sketch on the verso, small sheet—measuring just 25.9 × 9.7 cm—captures poses that pulse with energy and tension. These studies likely served as preparatory sketches for Fuseli's larger, more theatrical paintings, where nude forms embodied passion, horror, or divine fury. The use of crayon and charcoal allowed for bold, expressive lines and rich tonal contrasts, techniques Fuseli mastered to convey movement and emotion on humble paper fragments. Such works reveal the artist's meticulous approach to anatomy amid his era's shift from neoclassical restraint to Romantic intensity. Visitors will appreciate this rare glimpse into Fuseli's creative process, a testament to how even scraps of paper fueled the vivid imagination behind masterpieces like *The Nightmare*.

About the Artist

Henry Fuseli · 1741–1825

Henry Fuseli (1741-1825), born Johann Heinrich Füssli in Zürich, was a Swiss-British painter whose visionary works exploring dreams, nightmares, and psychological terror made him one of the most original figures of the Romantic movement. His art bridged Neoclassical discipline with Romantic emotionalism, creating images of supernatural intensity that would influence artists from William Blake to t...