Jesse Godley

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Jesse Godley

1885 (negative); printed later

Thomas Eakins (American, 1844–1916)

Eakins wrote that "to draw the human figure it is necessary to know as much as possible about it, about its structure and its movements, its bones and muscles, how they are made, and how they act." He sought to provide his students with the fullest understanding of anatomy, and experimented with different modes of capturing weight and movement. Jesse Godley, a student and anatomy demonstrator at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, collaborated with Eakins, modeling and even photographing some of his motion studies. Just a few years later, however, Godley would side against his trusted teacher in the scandal that led to Eakins's ouster from the Academy.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

Jesse Godley
Motion Study - Jesse Godley, Running Jump to Left

Date:

1885 (negative); printed later

Artist:

Thomas Eakins (American, 1844–1916)

Medium:

Gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

Image and sheet: 3 5/8 × 4 13/16 inches (9.2 × 12.3 cm)

Classification:

Photographs

Credit Line:

Gift of Charles Bregler, 1977

Accession Number:

1977-171-2

Geography:

Photograph taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America

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