Study of a nude woman stooping

George Frederick Watts 1817 - 1904

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of a drawing by George Frederick Watts. It is an outline drawing of a nude woman stooping over away from the viewer. Her left leg is straight and prominent. Her right leg is bent at the knee, and both arms reach down towards the foot, which is indistinct. Two other partial studies are visible: a leg in the bottom-left corner, and a thigh and part of a torso to the right. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "20. GEORGE FREDERICK WATTS (b. 1817; d. 1904) STUDY OF A NUDE WOMAN STOOPING Collection of Mrs. G. F. Watts, and exhibited in the Gallery, Compton, Surrey. Charcoal on brown paper. 55.5 x 35.3 cm. (21 7/8 x 13 7/8 in.). One of the numerous studies of 'Long Mary' done by Watts about the middle of the 'sixties'. Other fine examples are preserved in the British Museum, the Royal Academy, and in the Watts Gallery at Compton. 'Long Mary', as she was always called by Watts, was in service and never sat as a model to any other painter. She died soon after 1870. Watts never used the model directly in his paintings, but he constantly referred to these studies, done between 1860 and 1870, throughout his life in his painted work. A. M. H. [M. S. Watts (Mrs. G. F. Watts), Annals of an Artist's Life. 1912. Vol. II, p. 44.]"