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 (91 items)

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Elinor Cahn, The four Pajtys sisters were born in Fells Point and have estabished their homes within a mile of their birth place, 1977, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.287
The four Pajtys sisters were born in Fells Point and have…
Artist
Date1977
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Elinor Cahn, Assembly line at the American Can Company, 1980, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.263
Assembly line at the American Can Company
Artist
Date1980
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Elinor Cahn, "Doc" Price has owned and operated this drugstore on O'Donnell Street in Canton for more than fifty years., 1979, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.254
“Doc” Price has owned and operated this drugstore on O…
Artist
Date1979
gelatin silver print
Not on view
Elinor Cahn, Transient Tenants, 2200 block East Baltimore Street, 1980, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.284
Transient Tenants, 2200 block East Baltimore Street
Artist
Date1980
gelatin silver print
Not on view

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