Young Man Holding Statuette
1760
Medium
Charcoal and black chalk, heightened with white gouache, on cream laid paper, laid down on tan wove paper
Dimensions
52 × 37.4 cm (20 1/2 × 14 3/4 in.)
Classification
chalk
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
3828
Art Historical Context
Created in 1760 by British artist John Russell, “Young Man Holding Statuette” offers an intimate glimpse into 18th-century portraiture. The drawing presents a youthful figure cradling a small classical sculpture, evoking themes of artistic inspiration and the enduring influence of antiquity during the Georgian era. Russell, later celebrated for his pastel portraits, demonstrates early skill in rendering both human presence and sculptural detail. Executed in charcoal and black chalk heightened with white gouache on laid paper, the medium allows for rich tonal contrasts and luminous highlights ...