Unexecuted Design for the Monument to the First Duke of Marlborough c. 1733

This sepia ink drawing of a monument to the First Duke of Marlborough was made by John Michael Rysbrack, a sculptor working in England in the 18th century. It demonstrates the artist's design process. The monument shows an allegorical figure resting on a large urn, backed by an obelisk, with other trophies of war at its base. The drawing’s strength lies in the layering of tones, created by hatching and cross-hatching. You can see the care taken to define the contours of the figures and objects, giving them a sense of volume and depth. Given Rysbrack’s profession as a sculptor, it’s safe to assume that this design, had it been realized, would have been carved in stone, likely marble. The drawing then serves as a kind of surrogate for that material, translating its potential grandeur into a more portable, and reproducible form. This reminds us that behind every grand sculptural gesture, there is a great deal of planning and labor. Consider this drawing, then, a vital part of the extended creative process of design and making.