Sir W. Goscombe John RA (1860 - 1952)
RA Collection: Art
The inscription on the top right of this drawing sheet appears to be the model's name, Louise Beaune or Beaume, and her address "rue Campagne-Première". This street near Montparnasse in Paris - along with the nearby Rue Grande Chaumière, on the opposite side of the boulevard - was known as 'Le marché aux modèles' because so many models and artists lived there.
These life drawings were made by the Welsh sculptor William Goscombe John during his year studying in Paris in 1890-91 after being awarded a travel grant from the Royal Academy Schools. In the same group of drawings is a study (07/554) for his sculpture Morpheus (1890; National Museum of Wales), a figure that Goscombe John based on The Age of Bronze which he was able to study in Rodin's studio. He later wrote of the eminent artist; 'kindly man that he was, he allowed me to be with him while he was at work' (see Pickup).
Prior to his year in Paris, Goscombe John was taught by Lord Leighton at the Royal Academy Schools and his influence is also evident in the younger artist's work at this time, in his sculpted figures and also in his drawings.
Some of the drawings are inscribed with 'Paris' and dates in 1890. In several cases, very similar models also appear in life drawings by Adolph Robert Shulz who was studying in Paris around this time (there are examples in hte Indianapolis Museum of Art, for instance http://collection.imamuseum.org/artwork/58724/
Further reading
Fiona Pearson, Goscombe John at the National Museum of Wales,Cardiff, 1979, p. 11-12
David Pickup, 'Sir William Goscombe John 'Imbued with the Artistic Spirit'', The Medal , No. 31, 1997, pp. 68-72
615 mm x c. 472 mm