Sanguine Academic Study of a Male Arm, 18th Century

An elegant 18th-century red crayon drawing depicting a muscular male arm grasping a staff, executed with fine hatching, subtle shading, and anatomical precision indicative of academic figure study practices of the period. Rendered in sanguine red chalk on laid paper, the work displays warm tonal variation and sensitive modeling characteristic of classical atelier training. The sheet is presented in a later custom frame with a cream mat, offering a refined and archival display. Minor age-related foxing and handling marks are present, consistent with works on paper of this era, but the drawing remains crisp and expressive—an excellent example of early academic draftsmanship.