 |
| Jacques-Louis David Flying Figure holding Crown / Reclining River God before 1825 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Anonymous French Artist Standing Man 19th century drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Eugène Delacroix Sheet of Figure-studies before 1863 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Edgar Degas Studies of Draped Figure 1857-58 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Victor-François-Eloi Biennourry Standing Soldier 1851-52 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
The Soldier
Yes. Why do we all, seeing of a soldier, bless him? bless
Our redcoats, our tars? Both these being, the greater part,
But frail clay, nay, but foul clay. Here it is: the heart,
Since, proud, it calls the calling manly, gives a guess
That, hopes that, makesbelieve, the men must be no less;
It fancies, feigns, deems, dears the artist after his art;
And fain will find as sterling all as all is smart,
And scarlet wear the spirit of war there express.
Mark Christ our King. He knows war, served this soldiering through;
He of all can reeve a rope best. There he bides in bliss
Now, and seeing somewhere some man do all that man can do,
For love he leans forth, needs his neck must fall on, kiss,
And cry 'O Christ-done-deed! So God-made-flesh does too:
Were I come o'er again' cries Christ 'it should be this'.
– Gerard Manley Hopkins (sonnet written in 1885, first published in 1918)
 |
| David Pierre Giottino Humbert de Superville after Raphael Figure Group from Rape of the Sabine Women before 1849 drawing Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
 |
| Alexandre Cabanel Helmeted Figure with Sword 1878 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Auguste Rodin The Golden Age ca. 1871-78 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Alfred George Stevens Study for Belphoebe in Spenser's Faerie Queene ca. 1855 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Alfred-Émile-Léopold Stevens Académie 1844 drawing Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Massachusetts |
 |
| Alphonse Legros Figure Study before 1892 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Alphonse Legros Figure Study before 1892 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Alphonse Legros Figure Study before 1892 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Alphonse Legros Figure Study before 1892 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |