François Boucher

In this drawing François Boucher’s model is partially clothed and holds props, presumably a bundle of armor and weapons given the helmet and axe by his feet. The artist explored this figural motif in numerous drawings, prints, tapestry designs, and paintings of the mythological subject of Vulcan’s Forge. The rendering of the body demonstrates Boucher’s interest in close study of human musculature and gesture following his appointment as a professor at the Royal Academy in 1737.

Although this sheet may look at first glance like a spontaneous sketch, its composition and level of control suggest that it was in fact carefully prepared, perhaps as an example drawing to be copied by students, or possibly for exhibition and sale as a finished work.