Two Woman in Classical Dress, Outdoors (from Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

Thomas Sully created this drawing of two women in classical dress with graphite and watercolor on paper. Sully’s approach to the application of the materials is quick and loose. We can see the texture of the paper through the washes of watercolor. The graphite outlines of the figures and architectural elements further emphasize the sketch-like quality. Sully was working within a well-established academic tradition, yet he was also making a commodity. Drawings like this allowed artists to explore their ideas, and to offer smaller works to patrons who may not have been able to afford a large-scale painting. Think of it as the fashion sketch equivalent of its day, where the line is more about expression than the need for a perfect finish. This drawing collapses the distinction between fine art and craft, showing how the art of drawing could be both a skilled practice and a means of exploring the artist's imagination, while also appealing to the market.