Liggende figuur - David Pièrre Giottino Humbert de Superville

A precise Neoclassical figure study in pen and ink, created by David Pièrre Giottino Humbert de Superville while a prisoner of war in 1800.

This drawing, titled Liggende figuur, captures a figure in a state of repose. Executed in pen and brown ink with grey wash, the work demonstrates the artist's command of line and shadow. The figure is depicted in a supine position, with the head tilted back and the body draped in simple, flowing garments. The artist employs cross-hatching to define the folds of the fabric and the contours of the form, creating a sense of volume against the flat surface of the paper.

The inscription at the bottom indicates that the artist produced this work while a prisoner of war in Civitavecchia, Italy, during the year VIII of the French Republican calendar, which corresponds to 1800. This context provides a specific historical anchor for the piece, reflecting the personal circumstances of the artist during the Napoleonic era. The style aligns with the Neoclassical interest in clarity, anatomical precision, and the study of the human form, often drawing inspiration from classical sculpture.

David Pièrre Giottino Humbert de Superville was a polymath, known for his work as a painter, draughtsman, and theorist. His interest in the expressive power of lines and the psychology of art is evident in the deliberate, controlled nature of his sketches. The composition is balanced, focusing on the horizontal orientation of the figure. The use of wash adds a subtle tonal range, providing depth without distracting from the primary linear structure. This print offers an opportunity to observe the technical skill and observational focus of an artist working under constrained conditions, capturing a moment of stillness with clarity and restraint.