Study For The Kelpie 

Herbert James Draper made this charcoal drawing, "Study for the Kelpie," as a preparatory piece for his painting of the same name, depicting a dangerous, shapeshifting water spirit from Scottish folklore. Draper, who lived from 1864 to 1920, came to prominence during a fascinating time for British art. He was working at the height of the British Empire and during an era in which a strong academic tradition was starting to give way to modernism. Draper walked a line between these worlds; although he embraced classical subjects and promoted the classical ideal he also experimented with the more sensual and psychological subjects favored by modern painters. Draper’s focus on the nude form and his exploration of myth reflects Victorian society’s complex relationship with beauty, morality, and the emerging fields of psychology and anthropology. To fully appreciate Draper's art, we need to consider the social forces that influenced him. This means looking at the critical reception of his work at the time, exploring the art market, and investigating the Victorian fascination with myth and the human form.