Henry Hugh Armstead RA, Study of a female nude for 'The Ever Reigning Queen'
Henry Hugh Armstead RA, Study of a female nude for 'The Ever Reigning Queen'

Study of a female nude for 'The Ever Reigning Queen', by November 1880

Henry Hugh Armstead RA (1828 - 1905)

RA Collection: Art

This pencil drawing of a female nude is a preparatory study for Armstead's Royal Academy diploma work, a marble relief sculpture entitled 'The Ever Reigning Queen' (03/1671). The sculpture depicts the goddess Venus standing on a scallop shell and gliding through the sea on a dolphin's back. She is surrounded by swirling drapery and accompanied by birds and putti. This drawing is a study for the figure of Venus only, here undraped and with her left arm held slightly higher than in the finished relief and her head in a different position. This study is lightly drawn with a crisp outline but the upper body is given form by delicate shading which is echoed in the subtle, low-relief of the finished sculpture.

Object details

Title
Study of a female nude for 'The Ever Reigning Queen'
Artist/designer
Date
by November 1880
Object type
Drawing
Medium
Pencil on cream wove paper
Dimensions

225 mm x 174 mm

Collection
Royal Academy of Arts
Object number
04/2129
Acquisition
Given by Dr. Hugh Wells Armstead 1932

Associated works of art

1 results

return to start
back

Start exploring the RA Collection

read more
  • Explore art works, paint-smeared palettes, scribbled letters and more...
  • Artists and architects have run the RA for 250 years.
    Our Collection is a record of them.
Start exploring