Athena;Two Classical Figures (Possibly Venus) (from Sketchbook) 1857 - 1860

"Athena; Two Classical Figures (Possibly Venus) (from Sketchbook)" is a pencil drawing created by John Quincy Adams Ward, an American sculptor, between 1857 and 1860. This artwork is currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The drawing features a single figure of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, holding a helmet and shield, along with another sketch of two figures that could be Venus and a companion. The simplicity of the pencil lines and the classical subject matter of this preliminary sketch demonstrate Ward's fascination with Greek mythology and his meticulous attention to detail. This artwork offers insight into the creative process of a prominent American sculptor.