(From Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

Thomas Sully made this sketch in pen and ink on paper, offering us a glimpse into his artistic process and the cultural symbols of his time. The presence of the eagle is particularly striking, laden as it is with symbolic weight, especially in Sully's America. The eagle had been adopted as the national emblem in 1782, embodying ideals of freedom, power, and national pride. The inclusion of a human figure alongside these avian studies invites us to consider the relationship between humanity and the natural world. To truly understand this sketchbook page, we might turn to historical archives, exploring the visual culture of early 19th-century America. Only then can we appreciate the layers of meaning embedded within this seemingly simple sketch, a reflection of a nation in the making.