Five Figure and Group Sketches, Including Two Battling Equestrains, and Dead Warior (from Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

This sketchbook page was made by Thomas Sully in the 19th century, using graphite on paper. The material here is humble: just paper and pencil. Yet, observe how Sully coaxes a range of effects from them. The graphite lines are thin, quickly applied, resulting in a dynamic composition. The figures and horses seem to be caught in mid-motion. Sully’s approach to drawing embodies efficiency, reducing the subjects to their barest essence. Sully was a portrait painter of some renown. He would have used drawings like these to prepare for larger canvases. Here we see the nuts and bolts of the artist’s labor. This page highlights a fluid mastery of technique, acquired through years of training and practice. It may be ‘just’ a drawing, but in its deftness we see Sully’s mastery and the monumentality of his vision. These sketches reveal the artist’s skill as a craftsman, seamlessly merging the realms of fine art and skillful execution.