(From Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

Thomas Sully created this page from a sketchbook with graphite on paper. Sully lived and worked during a time of immense social change and the formation of national identity in the United States. Notice how these sketches reflect the European artistic traditions in which Sully was trained, particularly Neoclassical ideals that draw from Greek and Roman art. These sketches signal Sully's preoccupation with form, balance and idealized human figures. What do you think about the way women are represented here? In the 19th century, women in art were often portrayed as allegorical figures or objects of beauty, reinforcing specific gender roles and societal expectations. These images seem to maintain that tradition. As you look, consider how Sully's work both reflects and perhaps subtly challenges the artistic norms of his time. What feelings do these sketches evoke in you?