Study of a Statue, or Cast
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Arnold W. Brunner
Accession Number
1948-47-274
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Study of a Statue, or Cast** *Arnold William Brunner (American, 1857–1925), 1878* Created when Arnold W. Brunner was just 21, this intimate study captures the young artist's early fascination with classical forms. Brunner, who would become a prominent American architect known for grand Beaux-Arts public buildings, likely made this drawing during his student years, a time when meticulous sketches from ancient statues or their plaster casts were essential training. Such exercises honed skills in anatomy, proportion, and drapery—foundations of Western art that bridged antiquity to modern d...