Joseph of Arimathea, Figure study for [The Arthurian Round Table’ 

Edwin Austin Abbey created this figure study of Joseph of Arimathea as preparation for his painting ‘The Arthurian Round Table’. Notice the way the charcoal medium has been used to emphasize the play of light and shadow, giving the draped figure a monumental presence. The artist focuses on the fall of the fabric, using dense, dark lines to define the folds and contours. Abbey masterfully manipulates light to create a sense of depth and volume. This is particularly striking in the contrast between the starkly lit areas and the deep shadows which gives the figure a sculptural quality. The composition is carefully structured, with the figure's placement and the arrangement of drapery leading the eye. The work's value, however, lies not merely in its aesthetic appeal but in its function as a study, revealing the artist's process of developing form and composition. It challenges fixed meanings and engages with new ways of thinking about perception.