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Study of a woman and child

1745–92
Not on view
The woman's seated pose is remarkably dynamic: as she turns to gaze over her shoulder, curls tumble from her coiffure, and folds of drapery spill across her lap, revealing slender legs crossed at the ankles. By contrast to the careful articulation of her face, her fingers are only schematically indicated, while the contours of the child's naked body are succinctly described in short strokes of black chalk. This rare compositional study by Sir Joshua Reynolds--the leading British portrait painter of the eighteenth century, first president of the Royal Academy, an influential theoretician of art, and a distinguished collector--is not related to any known painting. But its allusion to the Madonna and Child, and severely classicizing, Michelangelesque style link it to the artist's most accomplished grand-manner portraits of the 1770s.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Study of a woman and child
  • Artist: Sir Joshua Reynolds (British, Plympton 1723–1792 London)
  • Date: 1745–92
  • Medium: Black chalk
  • Dimensions: sheet: 10 1/2 x 7 1/4 in. (26.7 x 18.4 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Purchase, several members of The Chairman's Council Gifts, 2000
  • Object Number: 2000.285
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

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Sketchbook, Italy, Sir Joshua Reynolds British, Graphite, black chalk, pen and brown ink
Sketchbook, Italy
Sir Joshua Reynolds
1750–52
An English woman and her child, and young woman in a sixteenth century German costume, volume 4, plate 256 from "Monuments des Arts du Dessin"
Multiple artists/makers
1829
Diana (leaf in Italian Sketch Book, 1750–52), Sir Joshua Reynolds British, Graphite
Diana (leaf in Italian Sketch Book, 1750–52)
Sir Joshua Reynolds
1750–52
Diana, Viscountess Crosbie, Sir Joshua Reynolds British, Pen and brush and brown ink
Diana, Viscountess Crosbie
Sir Joshua Reynolds
after 1779
Study of a Woman and Two Children, Sir Joshua Reynolds British, Pen and brown ink over traces of pencil, British
Study of a Woman and Two Children
Sir Joshua Reynolds
18th century

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