That is really weird, while you were posting that, I was Googling for a Prud'hon image. I love his figure drawings, they look academic to me, but precede the academics by 100 years or so. Maybe one of you guys will explain the difference to me. In any case, my opinion is that Prud'hon had a lot greater appreciation of the female (and male) form that some of these other guys.
![](http://www.nga.gov/image/a00026/a00026db.jpg)