ACADEMY OF ART CANADA Student at Work on Bargue Drawing Study


Preparatory Drawing


   Copies of reference drawings 'from the flat' are assigned and accomplished chiefly to prepare the student for their early work 'from the round' (directly from three-dimensional drawing subjects). At the AAC, the sight-size method (employing a one-to-one comparison between subject and the student's work) is not used to accomplish any of the flat copy drawings assigned in our curriculum.

ACADEMY OF ART CANADA Student Figure Drawing Study in Progress from 19th Century Spanish Master Fortuny


Although the first Bargue drawing" is not achieved employing the alternative comparative method, the student is required to double it up to twice its size. This unit measurement approach eases the student into drawing proportionately at different sizes, and perhaps more importantly, ensures that the student doesn't secure a misleading sense of security from copying shapes that are of equal size. This approach makes things a little more challenging in the early going, but in the increased challenge lies the increased growth.

ACADEMY OF ART CANADA Student Bargue Drawing Study of Antique, Classical Foot


ACADEMY OF ART CANADA Student Bargue Drawing Study of a Antique Classical Head at Three Quarters View


ACADEMY OF ART CANADA Student Bargue Drawing Study of Antique Classical Head, Frontal View


ACADEMY OF ART CANADA Bargue Drawing Study of Head in Profile


ACADEMY OF ART CANADA Student Bargue Drawing Study of Classical Antique Horse's Head


ACADEMY OF ART CANADA Student Figure Drawing Study after Eakins


ACADEMY OF ART CANADA Student Figure Drawing Study after 19th Century Spanish Master Fortuny


ACADEMY OF ART CANADA Bargue Drawing Study of Antique Classical Hand


ACADEMY OF ART CANADA Student Bargue Drawing Study of Antique Classical Head, Frontal View


ACADEMY OF ART CANADA Student Red Chalk Figure Drawing Historical Technique Study after Raphael


  1. Gerald M. Ackerman, Charles Bargue Drawing Course with the Collaboration of Jean-Léon Gérôme (Paris: ACR Edition Internationale, 2003)