Three Standing Female Nudes (recto)

Three standing female nudes are arranged on a single sheet in this 1830 recto study from the Courtauld Gallery, demonstrating Etty's interest in exploring different poses and the compositional relationships between multiple figures. Such multi-figure studies often served as preliminary thinking for the mythological and allegorical compositions that formed the most ambitious category of his art. The trio format allowed him to experiment with contrapposto, weight distribution, and the visual rhythms created by grouped figures.

The three figures create a visual dialogue through their varied poses—each turned or angled differently to create compositional variety. Etty uses the proximity of the figures to explore reflected light and color between adjacent flesh surfaces. The drawing is confident and flowing, with the warm flesh tones unifying the three separate studies into a coherent visual group.