(From Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

This undated sketchbook page by Thomas Sully, rendered in graphite and wash, presents a compelling study in contrasts and visual dynamics. Sully arranges three distinct figures across the horizontal plane, each captured with varying degrees of detail and tonal weight. The seated figure anchors the composition with its darker wash, creating a focal point that draws the eye. Adjacent, the reclining figure, rendered with lighter, more ephemeral lines, introduces a counter-rhythm, while the standing figure to the right offers a vertical counterpoint, balancing the overall arrangement. Sully’s use of line is particularly striking. Notice the economy of means—how a few deftly placed strokes define form and volume, suggesting depth and texture without resorting to excessive detail. The open, undefined spaces between the figures are as crucial as the figures themselves, creating a visual dialogue that invites the viewer to complete the narrative. This interplay of presence and absence, definition and suggestion, is a testament to Sully’s mastery of visual language.