Study for Drapery of ​“Pursuit of the Ideal”

Kenyon Cox, Study for Drapery of "Pursuit of the Ideal", 1891, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Ambrose Lansing, 1983.114.19
Kenyon Cox, Study for Drapery of "Pursuit of the Ideal", 1891, oil on canvas, 18 1⁄4 x 14 7⁄8 in. (46.4 x 37.8 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Ambrose Lansing, 1983.114.19
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Study for Drapery of ​“Pursuit of the Ideal”
Artist
Date
1891
Location
Dimensions
18 1⁄4 x 14 7⁄8 in. (46.4 x 37.8 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Ambrose Lansing
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Study
  • Dress
Object Number
1983.114.19
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1983.114.19

Artwork Description

Kenyon Cox was known for his masterful execution of paintings and public murals. He meticulously planned every detail of a work and created several sketches and studies before its final execution. Study for Drapery of "Pursuit of the Ideal" illustrates one of the numerous steps in his artistic process. The white drapery covers the lower half of a barely sketched woman. The dramatic folds in the fabric help show the contours of the figure, for which Cox would have created separate studies. The final painting of Pursuit of the Ideal was part of United States' fine arts exhibit at the Paris Exposition in 1900.

Works by this artist (132 items)

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Man Ray, Fisherman's Idol, cast 1973, bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.7
Fisherman’s Idol
Artist
Datecast 1973
bronze
On view
Man Ray, Its Another Spring, 1961, mixed media: metal spring, ivory ball, and wooden cigar box, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.6
Its Another Spring
Artist
Date1961
mixed media: metal spring, ivory ball, and wooden cigar box
On view
Man Ray, Le Voyeur, 1965, wooden cigar box with inserted door lens, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.4
Le Voyeur
Artist
Date1965
wooden cigar box with inserted door lens
On view
Man Ray, Square Dumb Bells, 1944 or 1945, cast bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Juliet Man Ray, 1983.105.17A-B
Square Dumb Bells
Artist
Date1944 or 1945
cast bronze
On view

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