Fine academic male nude pencil drawing Frank Samuel Eastman 1902 Royal Academy

Description: This listing is for a superb large academic drawing of a seated male nude by Frank Samuel Eastman (1878–1964), who studied at the Royal Academy in London between 1899 and 1904. Executed in pencil on heavy paper, the sheet is signed "F S Eastman" on the back. An inscription at lower right, made by the curator of the Royal Academy, H. T. Bosdet, notes that Eastman completed the work after 11 sessions on June 8, 1902. The artist would have been 24 at that time and the inscription indicates he made the drawing under the guidance of painter Andrew Carrick Gow (1848-1920). The full inscription reads: June 8" 1902. A. C. Gow Esq. R.A. (visitor) 11 sittings - H.T. Bosdet A unique feature of life classes at the Royal Academy was that they were overseen by a rotating group of instructors, known as "Visitors". Nine visitors were selected each year, and each directed a class for one month. This system was created to prevent students from becoming overly influenced by any single artist or style. (See the 2018 article "Strike a pose: 250 years of life drawing at the RA" by Annette Wickham for more details, available on the RA website.) Eastman seems to have thrived at the Royal Academy. In 1900, he won a 2-year scholarship to study in Rome, but it's not clear when he went or if he stayed for the full period. Of the academies he made at the RA, 11 are now preserved in the Harvard Art Museums, including one from each of the four months that proceeded this study. Armed with that knowledge, it is interesting to compare the progression of poses and differing atmospheric techniques he used in the lead up to this work. Only one of those studies is of a seated figure, but there he rests on posing blocks. In this work, a rather dapper model sits on a stately klismos chair, a neoclassical element that would have been selected by the visiting academician, Gow. Gow was a history painter and had likely just finished a large tribute painting to George Washington, entitled "Washington's farewell to the Army", which he exhibited at the RA that year, possibly coinciding with his involvement in the class. Notably, one of Gow's next projects was fully-Classical in style, depicting a crowded Roman procession; see last image, "A Roman triumph", completed in 1905. Although nude, I describe this model as dapper because he sits with his short-cropped hair on a tailored cushion, and—look closely—wears two simple rings on either ring finger. The presence of jewelry is unusual in any type of academic drawing, and doubly so for a man. The fact that he wears two rings is, to my knowledge, unprecedented in academies prior to the modern era. This is the kind of detail that is highly desirable in an academie, as it makes one wonder about the personality of the person, their private life and larger world—which are marvelous questions, really, considering the intimacy of our introduction! Though we see the model nude, the rings make us long for an understanding of his public persona. Eastman's approach here is delicate, soft, and one wonders if this is Gow's influence. The skin is finely shaded, with more subtlety of light and contour than in the Harvard drawings. The muscles in the sitter's abdomen and chest are finely rendered, and Eastman excels in detailing the contours of shadow beneath the model's extended left arm. There too we see Gow's touch as he would have set the pose and carefully placed the model's hand, creating a well of deepest shadow in the place our eye is most likely to fall. The subtle light, the model's assertive, almost indifferent expression, and his relaxed pose with one foot slightly hanging in the air—it's all exquisitely balanced. And I for one would be curious to see the drawings that followed. Unfortunately, this study came to me alone, and Harvard's collection stops at May 1902, so we may never see the academies that came after. But we can hope! A few observations about terminology. In English, academic drawings are commonly referred to as life drawings in the UK, and figure drawings in the US. The term figure drawing is very American for its directness, but also for its ambiguity since it is divorced from an implication of nudity. Life drawing, on the other hand, suggests "from life", as in from the nude, but it also hints at an attempt to document the living, breathing vitality of the subject. The German term is akt, from "action", and suggests the body assuming a role, or a pose, in the service of narrative. The German phrase "aktmodelle nach der Natur" was commonly used in the 19th century to describe a nude study after nature, which is in line with the meaning of the British term. The Italians have the concept of dal vero—literally “from the true”—but take a wholly different approach with the term nudo virile, virile or masculine nude, which emphasizes the embodiment of strength and vitality—traditional masculine traits long idealized in Western art. The French, for their part, have similar terms in d'après nature—“after nature”—and nu masculin, but also get to take credit for the entire genre with académie, the word's new meaning coined in the late 17th century as a shorthand for academic nudes more broadly. Paris was, after all, the undisputed capital of the Art world at the time, and within France it was only at the Académie, by Royal decree, that one was permitted to draw from life. Drawing measures approximately 22"w x 30"h. Note that it does not come matted or framed; the image showing a mat is for reference only. The sheet is in overall good condition, with minor wear, spots, and smudges throughout. There are pinholes and small losses at the corners, and multiple small tears along the edges. Three of the largest, each approximately 1", have been repaired. There are slight wrinkles from prior matting at top right, and four tiny pencil-drawn brackets that might have been added by a framer. At one time the drawing was numbered and the faint outline of a 5 is visible at top left. The preceding Harvard drawings are also numbered; typically, such markings would indicate ranking, but these fall in a perfect sequence, suggesting they represent the order of work, beginning with 1 in February and ending at 5 with this drawing in June. Furthermore, one of the Harvard drawings is clearly ranked, and that score is printed in red ink and pasted along the top left edge. See images to verify condition and feel free to ask questions. Frank Samuel Eastman (1878–1964), was a British artist and successful portraitist. He attended the Croydon School of Art and later the Royal Academy Schools in London, enrolling in 1899 and graduating in 1904. In 1900, Eastman received a British Institution scholarship for study in Rome, though details of his time in Italy are not fully documented. In 1905, Eastman married Edith Maud Mair, a fellow artist he met at the RA Schools. The couple, both involved in the arts, resided first in Chelsea and later in West Kensington, London. Eastman's career was marked by his prolific output in portraiture, with more than 3,000 portraits to his name, including that of William Morris, 1st Viscount Nuffield. His work was frequently exhibited at the Royal Academy and Walker’s Gallery on Bond Street. Additionally, Eastman's proficiency in figure drawing is highlighted by his works from the RA Schools, now preserved in the Harvard Art Museums collection. During World War II, Eastman served as an ARP Camouflage Officer, and was charged with disguising critical infrastructure. He continued to exhibit his art until 1947. The biography above is partly summarized from an Art UK discussion dated February 2020. More details about the artist, including his obituary and links to known works, are easily found with a Google search for "Art UK" and the artist's name. Terms of SalePlease allow (4) business days after the auction ends for processing and shipment. Condition, Shipping, and ReturnsFlaws, manufacturing defects, or damages—if applicable—are noted in the description above to the best of my ability. Returns are not accepted. Measurements are approximate. Drawings will be carefully rolled and shipped in a tube unless otherwise specified. Please only bid if you agree to these terms and conditions. Thank you for taking the time to view this listing and be sure to check out my other auctions.

Price: 1225 USD

Location: Woodside, New York

End Time: 2024-09-01T22:54:46.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD