Standing male nude, probably a study for 'A Recording Angel' or 'Destiny'

George Frederic Watts RA (1817 - 1904)

RA Collection: Art

A chalk drawing of a standing male nude holding a book, or a similar object, balanced on the left thigh. The head of the figure is in outline only but the rest is shaded in smudged black chalk with highlights in white and tone added by small areas of reddish-brown chalk.

The figure is probably a nude study for one of Watts's early versions of 'A Recording Angel' (Watts Gallery) or 'Destiny' (1904, Watts Gallery), both of which portray an androgynous figure standing in this position and writing on a tablet balanced on the left thigh. Watts often reused figures or repeated poses in paintings dealing with similar subject and in this case both paintings explore the theme of personal, moral responsibility.