Sketches of Napoleon, President Willard, and Mrs. Timothy Waterhouse 1798 - 1799

Editor: This is Washington Allston's "Sketches of Napoleon, President Willard, and Mrs. Timothy Waterhouse," dimensions roughly 16 by 12 inches. It’s a pen and ink drawing filled with caricatures. I'm struck by the way Allston combines studies of different people onto a single sheet. What can you tell me about its public reception, if any? Curator: This wasn't really made for public reception, at least not in the way we think about it now. These sketches likely served as preliminary studies. Note the range of figures depicted: a fallen emperor, a college president, and a local woman. Allston was interested in observing and capturing different types. Editor: So, it's about the act of observing society? Curator: Precisely. Consider the social commentary inherent in juxtaposing these figures. What does it say about Allston’s world that he places them all on equal footing in his sketchbook? It makes you wonder about his views on power and status, doesn’t it? Editor: It does! The social dynamics are really interesting to consider, even in a sketch. Curator: Exactly. And that's why even seemingly simple sketches can give us insights into the artist’s world and the broader culture.