An early nineteenth century framed charcoal life-study of a male figure.

The figure is shown heroically nude, from the front, in a full length, slightly serpentina pose with the right arm radiating from the torso. The composition is depicted contraposto and leaning on a spear or staff.

The pose depicted is shows a slightly adapted and altered rendering of the famous Doryphorus, or Spear-Barer of Polykleitos.

Polykleitos was known as the best sculptor of men in the ancient world, with the primary subjects of his works being male athletes with idealised body proportions. He was interested most chiefly in the mathematical proportions of the human form, which led him to write an essay the famous Kanon, on the proportions of humans.

The Doryphoros is an illustration of his writings in Kanon on the symmetry between the body parts

Reputedly drawn by students at the Royal Academy Schools under the tutelage of Henry Fuseli RA