Saturday, February 1, 2014

Drawing by Dean Cornwell


This figure study by Dean Cornwell (1892-1960), probably done from a live model, is a beautiful example of designing the forms, and not copying accidental details.


The forms are simplified with an attention of straight lines versus curved lines, and a geometric statement of the disk-shaped cuffs and neck ruff. He's careful to draw the centerline down the torso, and to think of the folds of the cape as strong columnar tubes. Cornwell often remarked about the difference between folds, which are structural, and wrinkles, which are accidental.

It was done as a study for the Sir Walter Raleigh murals in the Warwick Hotel in New York. 

5 comments:

Keith Patton said...

This is the difference between classicism and naturalism. A lot of realist painters today are obsessed with naturalism, but don't realize that so much of the great art of the past is classical and not naturalistic!

Janet Oliver said...

What a yummy drawing!

Rich said...

That pipe in his hands gives it a certain swing.

As they used to say:
"It ain't mean a thing (if it hasn't got that swing)"

...eh, that rather belongs to the realm of music. We're on a painting blog here:

I'll take my coat;-)

Unknown said...

I feel like this drawing has a wonderful crispness and cleanliness that comes from the attention to geometric precision.

Max West said...

This is genius. The lines, the control, and the fluidity of the image make it stand out so much.