Horseman Addressing Two Women; Palette, Brushes in Artist's Hands, Picture and Easel Beyond; Putto Blowing Clarion (from Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

This is a preparatory sketch by Thomas Sully for his large painting "The Passage of the Delaware," a historical piece depicting George Washington crossing the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War. The sketch is made up of various figure studies done in pencil on paper, including a horseman (possibly Washington) addressing two women and a putto blowing a clarion. The sketch is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The loose lines and dynamic composition of the sketch showcase Sully's skill as a draftsman.