Carle van Loo

Carle van Loo (1705 - ) was a French painter born in Nice. Van Loo's art is noted for its refined technique and its elegance. He was trained by his father, a portrait painter, and by 1724 had travelled to Rome, where he was influenced by the Baroque style. This particular piece is a study for a larger painting, showing his use of graphite and charcoal to illustrate the detail of the human form in preparatory sketches. This work exemplifies his interest in both anatomy and classical compositions.