Sketch of Actor Standing n.d.

John Sell Cotman's "Sketch of Actor Standing" is a quick graphite drawing of a male actor, possibly in costume, standing and holding a small object. The artist's loose and sketchy style is typical of his work and his interest in capturing the essence of his subject rather than photographic detail. This drawing, part of a series of studies of figures, demonstrates the skill of Cotman, a renowned English watercolorist and draftsman of the 19th century. Currently, it is housed in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.