Historical Figure Drawings

Sketches depicting historical figures, gestures, and scenes from mythology, showcasing artistic styles in chalk, graphite, and ink.

God the Father with musician angels, Raffaellino da Reggio, 1560 - 1578 drawing paper. ink pen / brush

Chalk and feather drawing by Giustino Menescardi depicting a kneeling figure receiving the Doge of Venice, using gray lavings, showing posture and gesture.

Birth ofBacchus. Artist: Frans Floris the elder, Flemish, ca. 1519-1570

Illustration for Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso": Orlando Returns Bireno to Olimpia Jean-Honoré Fragonard (French, 1732-1806). Illustration for Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso": Orlando Returns Bireno to Olimpia, 1780-1789. Black conté crayon and wash on laid paper, Sheet: 15 3/4 x 10 5/8 in. (40 x 27 cm). European Art 1780-1789

Cornelis Schut I, River God with Putti River God with Putti

The Rape of Helena; verso: Study of a Kneeling Nude Male Figure late 17th-18th century Daniel Seiter Austrian. The Rape of Helena; verso: Study of a Kneeling Nude Male Figure 384644

Brown ink and brush drawing with wash by François Boucher depicting Venus with Bacchus, Ariadne, and Zephir, showing gestures, posture, and interaction.

French 18th Century, The Triumph of Neptune, 18th century The Triumph of Neptune

drawing Raphael from Windsor Castle, Abraham sacrificing Isaac, Charles Thurston Thompson, 1857.

God the Father with musician angels, Raffaellino da Reggio, 1560 - 1578 drawing paper. ink pen / brush

Graphite and brown wash drawing by Philipp Joseph Tassaert showing a group of people drinking and making music around a table, with minor vertical fold marks and slight edge dirt.

Design for Susanna and the Elders. Date/Period: 1660-1710. Drawing. Pen and brown ink, brush and gray wash, red and black chalk on cream laid paper, lined. Author: LUCA GIORDANO.

Anonymous / 'Hercules and the Minotaur'. XVI century. Pencil, Grey-brown ink on paper. Museum: Museo del Prado, Madrid, España.

Preparatory Study for the decoration 'Equestrian Portrait of George I', John Vanderbank, 1694-1739, British, undated, Graphite with brown wash and gray wash on medium, slightly textured, cream laid paper, Sheet: 11 1/8 × 12 3/8 inches (28.3 × 31.4 cm), allegory, equestrians, portrait

Depiction of an angel and a saint in motion, executed with brown pen and brown laved technique around 1720 by Bartolomeo Altomonte.

Study sheet by an anonymous artist showing four angels, executed with silver pencil on parchment between 1445-1455, with lavated and passed-over techniques, including compositional arrangement and figure details.

Design for a Frieze. Artist: Anonymous, French, 18th century. Dimensions: sheet: 5 1/16 x 11 1/16 in. (12.8 x 28.1 cm). Date: 18th century. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

The Finding of Moses. Antonio Gionima (Italy, Venice, 1697-1732). Italy, 18th century. Drawings. Red chalk and brown wash

Decoration of a coach panel, Brush and gray watercolor, pen and ink, black chalk on paper., Vertical drawing of a lateral panel of a coach. Wing-like. 'Summer' is shown seated upon clouds. She carries a sickle in her right hand and a sheaf of grain in her left arm, which a child brought her. Framing line., Europe and USA, Italy, 1650-75, transportation, Drawing, Drawing

Three Figures Supporting a Man, Smaller Sketch of the Same, and Studies for the Blinding of Elymas. Taddeo Zuccaro; Italian, 1529-1566. Date: 1556-1560. Dimensions: 386 x 274 mm. Pen and brown ink, and brush and red chalk and brown wash, with touches of red chalk, and black chalk, on ivory laid paper. Origin: Italy. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Thomas Stothard, 1755-1834, British, One of Six Illustrations to Fenelon's "The Adventures of Telemachus son of Ulysses", ca. 1784. Pen and gray ink and gray wash on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper.

Design for a vignette with two putti with the coat of arms of Holland, Gerard de Lairesse, 1668 - 1670 drawing. print Proefprint of a map with the design drawing for a vignette in the engraving. Design for a print. paper. chalk. ink pen / brush / engraving maps of separate countries or regions. coat of arms (as symbol of the state, etc.) (+ province; provincial). cupids: 'amores', 'amoretti', 'putti' Holland

Deifying of Horofilia. James Thornhill; English, 1675-1734. Date: 1695-1734. Dimensions: 207 × 151 mm. Pen and brown ink with brush and brown wash, over graphite, on cream laid paper. Origin: England. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA. Author: James Thornhill.

Boy in a Turban, Winged Angel and Three Companions. Jacques de Gheyn II (Dutch, 1565 - 1629)

A dark brown feather drawing by Martin Johann Schmidt around 1794 depicting Luna and Endymion, showing figures, posture, and celestial landscape with lavated and heighted shading on green-gray paper.

Mather Brown, Allegory Four Putti, 1780 1790 Allegory: Four Putti

Drawing, Latona Metamorphosing the Peasants into Frogs; Italy; graphite, black and white pencil on grey paper

David and Bathseba (in box with 43 drawings), Louis Fabritius Dubourg, 1743 drawing paper. ink. pencil pen / brush David, from the roof (or balcony) of his palace, sees Bathsheba bathing

Raymond Lafage drawing of the education of Bacchus, executed in brown pen with gray wash and traces of black chalk, dated 1670-1675.

Apotheosis of a poet, 1673 - c. 1725 drawing Apotheosis of a poet (center) surrounded by allegorical figures and antique gods (above). Italy paper. ink pen writer, poet, author. apotheosis (or ascension) of individuals. Literature. the Olympian gods together: Jupiter, Juno, Neptune, Ceres, Apollo, Diana, Mars, Venus, Mercury, Minerva, Vulcan, Vesta (or Bacchus)

Match between Apollo and Pan, 1660 print Apollo has challenged PAN to a music competition. Pan plays on his pan flute, while Apollo listens. Next to Apollo is King Midas who received donkey ears from Apollo. This print is part of an album. paper etching contest between Apollo and Pan with the mountain god Tmolus as judge, i.e. judgement of Midas; Midas often represented with ass's ears

Parijs, Lesueur, Eustache, Amsterdam, Cootwijck, Jurriaan, Hagar in de desert, Paris, verso print - handwritten in pencil, Hagar lies on the ground in a mountainous landscape. An angel points her to a source of water. On the right lies Ishmael, the child of Hagar, hidden under a bush., print, prent, prints, verso cardboard and verso print - stamped, J Cootwyk Fecit, height 140 mm, width 184 mm, Northern Netherlands, 1714-05-10 - 1798-01-16, print maker, printmaker, 1759 - 1759, paper, papier, printtekening, doordruk, crayonmanier, Frans, 1617-11-19 - 1655-04-30, intermediary draughtsman

Vatican City, Alexander VII, Rome, Collignon, François, Italy, Carracci, Annibale, Cesio, Carlo, Galeria nel Palazzo Farnese in Roma, Paintings in Palazzo Farnese in Rome, Leander swimming to Hero across the Hellespont, Pan chasing Syrinx, On the left a medallion depicting Leander swimming to Hero across the Hellespont. Around the medallion are sculptures of nude figures, putti and a mask. On the right a medallion depicting Pan chasing Syrinx among the reeds. Around the medallion sculptures of nude figures, putti and a mask., print, prints, height 260 mm, width 535 mm, Italian, 1622 - 1682, print maker, printmaker, 1656 - 1656, paper, papier, etching, etchings, intermediary draughtsman, after a drawing by, Work conception, 1560-11-03 - 1609-07-15, after a design by, Publication (Event), Publication, French, 1610 - 1687, publisher, uitgever, 1599-02-13 - 1667-05-22, gever van privilege

'Horseman with Punchinellos'. Italy, 1770-1790-s. Dimensions: 20x29 cm. Museum: State Hermitage, St. Petersburg. Author: GIOVANNI DOMENICO TIEPOLO.

Thetis as Smekelinge in the meeting of the gods (in box with 43 drawings), Louis Fabritius Dubourg, 1703 - 1775 drawing paper. ink. pencil pen Thetis asks Jupiter to support her son (Achilles)

Gaetano Gandolfi, The Birth of Venus, late 1770s The Birth of Venus

Eliëzer in Rebekka, Sebastiano Conca, 1690 - 1764 drawing paper. chalk Rebekah offers Eliezer a drink from her pitcher. Rebekah offers Eliezer a drink from her pitcher

Portrait of Louis XV by François Boucher, surrounded by allegorical figures representing mercy, executed with black pen, brush, wash, and black chalk.

Amsterdam, Visscher, Nicolaes (II), Netherlands, France, Lepautre, Jean, Verscheyde Lofwercken en andere Cieraden, Seated woman and man, Fries. On the right is half of a vase to see., print, ornament print, prints, ornament prints, height 155 mm, width 225 mm, Work conception, French, 1618-06-28 - 1682-02-02, after a design by, 1670 - 1702, third quarter 17th century, fourth quarter 17th century, first quarter 18th century, paper, etching, etchings, print maker, printmaker, Publication (Event), Publication, 1649 - 1702, publisher

Mythological performance with man standing between two groups of spectators, draughtsman: Louis Fabritius Dubourg, 1703 - 1775, paper, h 280 mm × w 390 mm

Neptune and Coronis: Ovid, Metamorphoses, Book 2, Thomas Carwitham, active 1723, British, 1723, Pen, ink and brown wash on medium, slightly textured, beige laid paper, mounted to medium, slightly textured white wove paper, Sheet: 6 7/16 x 7 1/2in. (16.4 x 19.1cm), Coronis changed into a crow: to escape the love of Neptune, Coronis, daughter of Coroneus, is changed into a crow by Minerva (Ovid, Metamorphoses II 569), crow (animal), gods, metamorphosis (biological event), Ovid's Metamorphoses, pitchfork, religious and mythological subject

John Flaxman, Otus and Ephialtes Holding Mars Captive, 1790s Otus and Ephialtes Holding Mars Captive

Study for an allegorical ceiling painting, Woman and putti in the clouds, draughtsman: Gian Antonio Burrini, 1685 - 1689, paper, pen, brush, h 132 mm × w 286 mm

A drawing by Stefano della Bella from around 1633-1634 showing a half-figure study of a seated person turned to the left, executed in chalk and feather.

Venus and Cupid in Vulcan's Forge 1627-1703 Domenico Piola Italian. Venus and Cupid in Vulcan's Forge 340482

George Romney, 1734-1802, British, Figures Mourning at the Bier of a Woman, undated. Graphite on medium, slightly textured, cream laid paper.

This 1771 etching and aquatint by Simon Watts depicts the Holy Trinity, highlighting biblical subject matter with detailed composition and engraving technique.

Robert Smirke, An Allegory of Britain's Naval Might An Allegory of Britain's Naval Might

Italy, Michelangelo, Veneziano, Agostino, Battle of Cascina, recto lower right - handwritten in black ink, Scene from the Battle of Cascina between Florence and Pisa. Florentine soldiers have bathed naked in a river and are hastily dressing again because of the suddenly approaching army of Pisa. At bottom center the arms of a soldier are visible, pulling himself up on the bank. On the right in the background a drummer and two soldiers., print, prints, verso - stamped, 54., height 327 mm, width 445 mm, Italian, 1490 - 1536, print maker, printmaker, 1524 - 1524, paper, papier, engraving, engraving (printing process), etching, 1475-03-06 - 1564-02-18, intermediary draughtsman

Study for the Muse Urania. Artist: Michel Dorigny (French, Saint-Quentin 1616/17-1665 Paris). Dimensions: 11 9/16 x 14 7/8 in. (29.3 x 37.8 cm). Former Attribution: Formerly attributed to Francesco Solimena (Italian, Canale di Serino 1657-1747 Barra). Date: mid-17th century. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Apollo kills the Python, Felice Giani, Italian, 1758-1823, Pencil, Pen and black inks, brush and watercolor on paper., Horizontal rectangle. Apollo comes running from the left, the crouching Python pierced by an arrow, at the right., Italy, 1796-98, figures, Drawing, Drawing

A Study of Agostino Cornacchini's Statue of Charlemagne, St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, Joseph Wilton RA, 1722-1803, British, Between 1747 and 1755, Graphite, pen and brown ink and brown wash on medium, moderately textured cream laid paper, Sheet: 10 × 6 1/8 inches (25.4 × 15.6 cm), architectural subject, Grand Tour, horse (animal), statue, study (visual work), Rome

Philatelic 'cover' envelope, Mulready caricature - 'Fores Comic Envelopes No.1', May 1840, United Kingdom, by John Leech, Fores.

Studies for "Saul Reproved by Samuel for Not Obeying the Commandments of the Lord" John Singleton Copley (American, 1738-1815). Studies for "Saul Reproved by Samuel for Not Obeying the Commandments of the Lord," 1797-1798. Black crayon and white chalk on blue, medium-weight, slightly textured laid paper, sheet (sight): 12 1/4 x 14 1/4 in. (31.1 x 36.2 cm). John Singleton Copley regularly made preparatory drawings for his complex, multifigural paintings in the Grand Manner. This double-sided sheet of figure studies provides a fascinating glimpse into Copleys creative process as he experimented with poses and costumes for a biblical narrative depicting a dramatic encounter between the prophet Samuel and King Saul (see illustration). The two highly finished sketches of Samuels voluminous drapery are particularly finely modeled with deft strokes of black chalk and highlights of white. American Art 1797-1798

Get Thee Behind Me, Satan, John Flaxman, 1755-1826, British, between 1783 and 1787, Gray ink with graphite and gray wash on moderately thick, slightly textured, cream laid paper, Sheet: 16 x 21 7/8 inches (40.6 x 55.6 cm), angels, cape, curtains, religious and mythological subject

Mythological subject n.d. After Gerard de Lairesse Dutch. Mythological subject 350549

Sir James Thornhill, 1675-1734, British, Design for a Ceiling, undated. Pen and brown ink over graphite on medium, slightly textured, cream laid paper.

Thetis as supplicant in the assembly of the gods (in box with 43 drawings), Thetis asks Jupiter to support her son (Achilles), Louis Fabritius Dubourg, 1703 - 1775, paper, ink, pencil, pen, h 75 mm × w 194/135 mm

Stone-thrower for the Martyrdom of St Vitalis. Date/Period: Ca. 1582. Drawing. Black chalk, pen & brown ink, brown ink wash on paper. Height: 20.30 mm (0.79 in); Width: 16.20 mm (0.63 in). Author: FEDERICO BAROCCI.

Louis Félix de La Rue drawing illustrating Tobias allowing the dead to be buried, executed in black chalk, feather, ink, and bister wash, circa 1760.

. 3321. Rome. Capp. Sistine. Flood

Friedrich Sustris illustrates Mercury and Argus in gray ink with wash and raster lines on brownish paper, capturing the mythological scene.

Two Draped Female Figures; Rest on the Flight into Egypt verso. Dimensions: overall: 27.6 x 37.7 cm (10 7/8 x 14 13/16 in.). Medium: pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk on laid paper. Museum: National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Author: Angelo Marullo.

A pencil sketch sheet by Rudolf Weyr presenting diverse figure and object studies, highlighting proportions, line work, and spatial arrangement.

Mather Brown, Three Figures (verso), 1780 1790 Three Figures verso

Perseus with the Head of Medusa, Turning Phineus and his Followers to Stone. After Polidoro Caldara, called Polidoro da Caravaggio; Italian, c. 1499-c. 1543. Date: 1567. Dimensions: 204 x 487 mm. Pen and brown ink with brush and brown wash, over black chalk, on ivory laid paper. Origin: Italy. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, Chicago, USA.

Pelid anger He bears an illustration to Homer's "Iliad"; Wyspiały, Stanis Aw (1869-1907); 1896 (1896-00-00-1896-00-00);Achilles (Mitol.), Homer (fl. Ca 850 A.C.). Iliad, unknown (provenance)

Two Figures Ascending. Follower of Luca Cambiaso; Italian, 1527-1585. Date: 1560-1570. Dimensions: 197 x 234 mm (max.). Pen and brown ink over traces of graphite, heightened with lead white (partially oxidized), on tan laid paper, laid down on blue laid paper. Origin: Italy. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, USA.

Left: a figure seated on a sphere. Right: two figures standing beside a tripod. Enclosed in framing lines. Date: ca. 1830. Pen and bistre ink, brush and wash on paper. Museum: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

Rest on the Flight into Egypt 1657 Italy. Black chalk, with pen and brown and black ink and traces of red chalk, on blue-gray laid paper, laid down . Francesco Albani

The World Carrying Away Knowledge and Love. Dirck Volckertz. Coornhert (Holland, Amsterdam, 1522-1590). Holland, 1550. Prints; engravings. Engraving

Welby Sherman, active 1827, Shepherd and Shepherdess by Moonlight, undated. Pen and ink and watercolor and gouache over graphite on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper.

Gray brush and laved chalk drawing by Eduard Bitterlich, a draft for the Vienna Opera auditorium titled 'The Night,' showing figures and architectural elements.

Pan and Olympus, c. 1645/1647, etching on laid paper, sheet (trimmed within plate mark): 20.6 x 11.5 cm (8 1/8 x 4 1/2 in.), Bartsch, no. 15, State only, Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione (artist) Italian, 1609 - 1664

Victoria, Le Brun, Charles (1619-1690)

Hubert-François Gravelot, 1699-1773, French, active in Britain (1733-45), Design for a Medal: Figure of Britannia () and Fortune () or Victory (), undated. Graphite, incised for transfer on medium, moderately textured, beige laid paper mounted on medium, moderately textured, cream laid paper, with gold leaf, watercolor, pen in black and red ink, border lines.

Antoni Viladomat/ DIBUJO VILADOMAT, SIGLO XVIII. Museum: Museo Nacional De Arte De Cataluña (MNAC), Barcelona, Cataluña, España.

Drawing by Jean Bardin representing the connection between Hymen and Amor, executed in black pen with brown wash and white highlights.

winged putto; Sketchbook "A.S.FE", 1587, magazine 11R (12). .

Mercury and IO Seated on the ground, Francesco Primaticcio, 1541 - 1547 drawing paper. chalk. ink pen / brush (story of) Mercury (Hermes)

Perseus and Andromeda, pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk on laid paper, overall: 31 x 27.2 cm (12 3/16 x 10 11/16 in.), Bartolommeo Gagliardo (artist) Genoese, 1555 - c. 1626

A drawing by Jan Goeree depicting Atlas bearing the globe, surrounded by allegories of virtue, executed with pen and brush in brown and gray washes over graphite pencil, with a missing section at the upper left edge.

Conversion of St. Paul. Date/Period: 1530. Pen and brown ink, brown wash, heightened with white gouache, over traces of black chalk, on blue paper faded to green gray. Width: 410 mm. Height: 272 mm. Author: Giovanni Antonio de Sacchis (Il Pordenone).

Design for a wall painting in the parsonage of the Moses and Aaron-Kerk, Jacob de Wit, 1716 drawing Design for a painting. pencil. paper. ink. chalk pen / brush groups of persons from the Old Testament. David (not in biblical context); possible attributes: crown, harp. Isaiah (not in biblical context); possible attributes: branch with leaves, saw, scroll or book. Solomon (not in biblical context); possible attributes of Solomon: crown, sceptre, sword

Brumidi's Allegorical Paintings in the Dome of the U.S. Capitol, 1850 - 1930, 1865 - 1875, Washington, D.C., United States, Albumen prints

Design for a title page with a woman, a putto and a river god, Jan Wandelaar, 1700 - 1759 drawing Woman with spade and rake is honored by a putto. On the right in the foreground a river god; Dancing figures in the background at a temple. paper. ink pen / brush title-page. agricultural implements: rake. agricultural implements: spade

Study for the Fall of Simon Maqus, S. Paolo Maggiare, Naples, 1690. Artist: Francesco Solimena (Italian, Canale di Serino 1657-1747 Barra). Date: 1690. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Stefano Della Bella, Huntsman with a Hound on a Leash Huntsman with a Hound on a Leash

Antoine Watteau, Figure Sketches and a Copy After a Sculpted Head (verso), c 1715 1716 Figure Sketches and a Copy After a Sculpted Head verso

Mural in the Museo Nazionale in Naples, representing the sacrifice of iPhigenia, c. 1875 - c. 1900 photograph National Museum cardboard. photographic support albumen print picture, painting. the sacrifice of Iphigenia National Museum

St. Thomas the Apostle, for the Church of St. Vaast in Arras. Artist: Alexandre Denis Abel de Pujol (French, Valenciennes 1785-1861 Paris). Dimensions: 5-3/8 x 9-13/16 in. (13.7 x 24.9 cm). Date: 1832. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.

Design for a book illustration, Wordshift between gentlemen, draughtsman: Herman Frederik Carel ten Kate, 1832 - 1891, paper, brush, h 77 mm × w 57 mm

Copper engraving and etching by Nicolas Joseph Voyez the Elder depicting Saint Sebastian, created in the 18th century, illustrating the saint's martyrdom and classical iconography.

Thisbe discovers the dead Pyramus, Gerard ter Borch (I), 1620 - 1629, draughtsman: Gerard ter Borch (I), (signed by artist), Zwolle, 1620 - 1629, paper, brush, h 190 mm × w 288 mm

Dancing Maenade a Saters, Agostino Veneziano, After Rafaël, 1516 print A Maenade and two saters walk to the right dancing. In the middle a maenade with two tambourines. On the left a saat with pan flute, on the right a saat with double horn. paper engraving Satyrs, Faun, Silen. Maenad (s), female Bacchant (es). flute, tribes. dancing. Horn, Trumpet, Cornet, Trombone, Trumpet

Lindholm, Berndt, work, Sketch book, 1889, pencil on paper, drawing, 11.5 cm x 17.5 cm, Lindholm, Berndt, part: boat with a smaller boat and a man, 1889, pencil on paper

unknown artist, (?sic Hugh Hambleton), Hermes Leading Persephone out of the Underworld, undated. Pen and brown ink, brown wash, and graphite on medium, slightly textured, cream laid paper.

Thomas Carwitham, active 1723, British, Design for a Ceiling Decoration, 1723. Pen, brown ink and gray wash on medium, slightly textured, white wove paper.

Two winged men, A. Carracci (attributed to), 1570 - 1609, Two winged men cleave the skies: the young man, left, raises a sword and blows at the old man, right, who carries a globe and appears to be stabbing himself in the chest., draughtsman: A. Carracci, (attributed to), 1570 - 1609, paper, pen, brush, h 225 mm × w 192 mm

Two sitting church fathers in Zwikken, Giulio Morina, 1580 - 1600 drawing paper. chalk. ink pen / brush

Birth of the Virgin. Giuseppe Cades; Italian, 1750-1799. Date: 1779-1789. Dimensions: 420 x 560 mm. Pen and brown ink with pen and brown wash, over traces of graphite, heightened with white gouache (discolored), on ivory laid paper. Origin: Italy. Museum: The Chicago Art Institute, USA.

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