Pierre-Paul Prud’hon: 100 Master’s Drawings

Pierre-Paul Prud'hon (1758 – 1823) was a French Romantic painter and draughtsman best known for his allegorical paintings and portraits. Prud'hon's artistic style contrasted starkly with the dominant version of Neoclassicism under Jacques-Louis David. His paintings were based on classical texts and ancient prototypes, but his dreaminess and melancholy were more akin to Romanticism. Prud'hon's drawings, often black chalk on blue paper, were not widely admired in his lifetime. Other artists during his time used these combined materials to study the figure, but Prud'hon took the form to new heights throughout his career. Although sidelined in his life, Prud'hon's insights in drawing would beckon future generations with their enigmatic testimony to sublime beauty. His technique evolved into a beautiful style that attracted many fans up to present day.