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Pierre-Paul Prud'hon

Study of a Nude Youth

Maker

Pierre-Paul Prud&#039

Title

Study of a Nude Youth

Year

ca. 1800-1817

Medium

  • Black and white chalks on blue laid paper

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

  • Black and white chalks on blue laid paper

Materials

black chalk, white chalk

Dimensions

56.5 x 28.6 cm (22 1/4 x 11 1/4 inches)

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke

Object Number

29.083

Type

  • Drawings and Watercolors

Publications

  • Journal

From Dürer to Van Gogh: Gifts from Eliza Greene Radeke and Helen Metcalf Danforth

  • Books

Selection V: French Watercolors and Drawings, ca. 1800-1910

French watercolors and drawings from the Museum's collection, ca. 1800-1910

Exhibition History

From Dürer to Van Gogh
Gifts from Eliza Greene Radeke and Helen Metcalf Danforth
Jun 05, 2008 – Oct 26, 2008

Label copy

The acquisition of this drawing is the end result of an informative exchange between Mrs. Eliza Radeke and her art agent, Martin Birnbaum, regarding the suitability of nudes in a public gallery such as the RISD Museum. On May 7, 1929, Birnbaum wrote from Paris to inform Mrs. Radeke of several studies of nudes available for purchase, stating, “I do not know the conditions in your life classes, - but I hope you will see the wisdom of acquiring such admirable works by great masters, to inspire students while they are working.” A study by Delacroix of a nude model nicknamed “Polonais” he described as “a great thing for students, but it may be considered unsuitable for a public gallery.” He added, “I am very conservative when I advise, and that will explain my attitude about the ‘Polonais,’….” A female figure by Pierre-Olivier Dubaut was “charming and modest…and could be shown in any gallery.” Mrs. Radeke did not buy either of the drawings. She did, however, purchase this academic nude by Pierre-Paul Prud’hon, mentioned in the same letter. Was it deemed the most appropriate for a public audience?

French Drawings in the Time of Degas
Aug 19, 2005 – Jan 22, 2006

Label copy

Throughout his life, Prud’hon made studies from a live model as private exercises unrelated to other work. He kept these in his studio and occasionally gave them to friends

Nude Figure
Some Works from the Permanent Collection
Dec 20, 1996 – Apr 20, 1997
Exhibition of 18th-Century Drawings and Watercolors
Apr 16, 1948 – Dec 03, 1948

Image use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use.

Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Pierre-Paul Prud'hon (French, 1758-1823)
Study of a Nude Youth, ca. 1800-1817
Black and white chalks on blue laid paper
56.5 x 28.6 cm (22 1/4 x 11 1/4 inches)
Gift of Mrs. Gustav Radeke 29.083

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Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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