Study of a Head 

Alphonse Legros made this Study of a Head using red chalk on paper. It evokes a sense of classical antiquity, an interest that surged through 19th-century Europe, influencing art academies and shaping public taste. The drawing's ochre tones and the subject’s serene expression recall Renaissance portraiture, connecting Legros to a lineage of artistic masters and their institutional authority. We can see the image creates meaning through the careful use of line and shadow, and the pose of the figure that brings to mind classical sculpture. Legros, a French artist who later taught at the Slade School in London, was part of a broader European movement to revive classical ideals in art. Understanding Legros’ work requires us to look at not only the artist himself, but also the institutional structures that promoted certain styles and subjects. Art historical resources like exhibition catalogs and academic records, help us to understand the social and institutional context that shaped Alphonse Legros’ artistic production.