Aided by Eeriboia, Hermes Carries Off the Exhausted Ares from the Sleeping Sons of Aloeus (recto); Sketch of One of the Sleeping Sons of Aloeus (verso) 1819

Henry Fuseli made this drawing, Aided by Eeriboia, Hermes Carries Off the Exhausted Ares from the Sleeping Sons of Aloeus, using pencil and gray wash. Fuseli uses the wash to imbue the figures with a dramatic sense of light and shadow. This isn't just a quick sketch; it's a very worked-up drawing. Fuseli would have used these drawings for preparatory studies, as templates for his paintings, as well as for sale on the art market. Here, we see the artist experimenting with composition and form, using the pencil to create detailed outlines of the figures. The use of pencil allowed him to quickly explore different ideas, while the gray wash adds depth and volume to the composition. The layered application of the wash imbues the artwork with its narrative drama and tension. The graphic quality adds an ethereal quality to the scene, heightening the emotional impact of the subject matter. Fuseli's artwork shows how materials and processes contribute to the overall meaning and significance of the image.