Drawings from the Louvre at the Morgan Library and Museum

  I went to the Morgan Library and Museum this week-end to see two shows " Ingres at the Morgan", a collection of 17 drawings, and "David, Delacroix, and Revolutionary France: Drawings from the Louvre".  The star of both shows for me: Pierre Prud'hon!  I viewed many skillful drawings there, but Prud'hon's just blew me away!  I circled back many times to his standing female nude, as the perfect example of academic drawing.  This is a rather large drawing, (about 21" x 16"), executed in black and white chalk stumped to a soft and lovely finish.  However, some of the chalk marks are still visible, to contrast and enhance the smooth finish.  The arabesque and light and shadow patters on the model make this a fluid, harmonious composition. 

   All the Prud'hon drawings shown are inspiring (see portrait below for another example), and it's delightful to see his pieces alongside the others created by equally famous artists of the time.  On display are drawings from Gericault, Delacroix, Ingres, David, and more.  Some photos from the Ingres show and the building can be seen below:

Prud'hon "Portrait of Constance Mayer" 1804

Ingres, Graphite on Paper, 1815