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

This pen and ink drawing by John Michael Rysbrack, dating back to 1733, is an unexecuted design for a monument to the First Duke of Marlborough. The design features a classical urn atop a pedestal and a figure, possibly a muse or a personification of victory, standing to the right, surrounded by symbols of war and victory. The drawing is a preliminary sketch, with the figures and elements sketched in detail. It is a testament to the process of design in monumental sculpture and provides insight into the visual language of the 18th century.