Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. Kenyon Cox died in 1919; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1989.
In context
Study for Christ — Kenyon Cox
The original measures 35 × 25 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.
Row above: the year. Row below: the artist's age in that year.
Painted when the artist was 49. The artist lived to 63. 36 of the 66 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
Shaded: the lifetime of Kenyon Cox (1856–1919) ▲ this work, 1905
First works: up to 1888 Main working years: 1888–1910 Late works: from 1910
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell.
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: wikioo.org/en/art/similar/kenyon-cox-study-for-christ-AS7RMV-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Espresso #572712
Catalogued palette
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 74.6% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 67 works by this artist, of which 30 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 3 of them, with 5.1% of that attention.
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born: October 27, 1856, in Warren, Ohio.
Parents: Jacob Dolson Cox and Helen Finney Cox.
Kenyon Cox initially studied at the Art Academy of Cincinnati (formerly the McMicken School of Art). However, he quickly recognized the limited artistic opportunities available in the city.
Following a visit to the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, he decided to pursue further education at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, hoping it would lead to studies in Europe.
In 1877, Cox moved to Paris, joining a wave of American artists seeking artistic inspiration. He believed Paris was experiencing a “second renaissance” in art.
Influential Teachers: Carolus-Duran, Jean-Léon Gérôme, and Alexandre Cabanel at the École des Beaux-Arts.
He initially studied under Carolus-Duran but became frustrated with what he perceived as a “vulgarity” in Duran’s style.
Travels throughout France and Italy exposed him to the works of Renaissance masters, profoundly shaping his artistic vision.
In 1882, Cox returned to New York City, where he established himself as a painter and illustrator.
Illustration Work: He became well-known for his magazine illustrations, which reached a wider audience than his paintings.
Art Criticism: Cox also wrote unsigned art criticisms for the New York Evening Post, supplementing his income.
His artistic style leaned towards realism, with a focus on landscapes, portraits, and genre studies. He was known for idealized nudes and traditional treatments of classical themes.
Art Students League of New York: Cox became a highly influential instructor at the Art Students League, shaping generations of artists. He designed the League’s logo featuring the motto “Nulla Dies Sine Linea” (No Day Without a Line).
Elected an Associate Academician of the National Academy of Design in 1900 and a full Academician in 1903.
Founding Member: He was one of the founders and secretary of the National Free Arts League.
Leadership Roles: Served as president of the National Society of Mural Painters from 1915 to 1919, and held memberships in various prestigious art organizations.
Cox’s work represented a commitment to classical ideals at a time when modern art movements were emerging. He advocated for careful drawing, modulated color, and the use of allegory and symbolism.
His writings, such as “Two Ways of Painting,” articulated his views on figurative art versus abstract or representational styles.
Legacy: Though not a radical innovator, Kenyon Cox played a crucial role in maintaining traditional artistic standards and educating aspiring artists. His influence extended through his teaching and his contributions to the American art establishment.
Death: March 17, 1919.
wikioo.org/en/art/download/kenyon-cox-study-for-christ-AS7RMV-en/
Look closely
Study for Christ — Kenyon Cox
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
The creation of "Study for Christ" by Kenyon Cox is dated 1905.
The perceived brightness of "Study for Christ" by Kenyon Cox is bright. It can be matched to the light of the intended space.
"Study for Christ" was created by Kenyon Cox. The information on this page describes Kenyon Cox's original work.
Kenyon Cox was 49 years old when creating "Study for Christ" in 1905. The age is computed from the artist's birth year, 1856.
The color harmony of "Study for Christ" is recorded as softly mixed palette.
The palette of "Study for Christ" by Kenyon Cox is described as neutrals. It is a compact description of the work's colors.
"Study for Christ" by Kenyon Cox can be downloaded from the artwork's Download page, as a high-resolution digital image download.