Medici Thusnelda (Study after the Antique) - Augustin Pajou

A detailed ink and wash study by Augustin Pajou, depicting the classical Medici Thusnelda statue observed during his time in Rome.

This study by the French sculptor Augustin Pajou captures the classical figure known as the Medici Thusnelda. Executed during his formative years in Rome, the drawing demonstrates the rigorous academic training required of artists at the time. Pajou, a recipient of the Prix de Rome, spent several years in Italy studying the collection of antique statuary that informed his later sculptural practice.

The drawing employs pen and brown ink, supplemented by wash to define the volume of the drapery and the posture of the figure. The artist focuses on the rhythmic folds of the chiton, which cascade down the body to create a sense of weight and movement. The figure stands in a contrapposto stance, with one hand raised to the chin in a gesture of contemplation. This pose, characteristic of the original marble sculpture, is rendered here with a focus on anatomical proportion and the interplay of light and shadow.

As a preparatory study, the work reveals the artist's process of internalising classical forms. The ink lines are precise, providing a structural framework, while the wash applications suggest the three-dimensional quality of the stone original. The paper shows signs of age, including minor foxing and discolouration, which are preserved in this museum-grade reproduction to maintain the integrity of the original document. This piece provides a view into the pedagogical methods of the eighteenth-century French Academy, where copying antique models was the primary means of developing a mastery of form and composition.