Composition Sketch for an Adoration of the Magi [?] and A Bishop Blessing [Marriage at Bolsena?] (from Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

Thomas Sully created this composition sketch for an adoration scene, and a bishop blessing, using graphite on paper. Sully used an ordinary material, graphite, which is really just carbon. It’s soft, which allows it to leave marks on the paper’s surface with minimal pressure. Here, we see a spontaneous, almost frantic application of graphite, a testament to the artist's initial vision taking shape. The fleeting, incomplete nature of this drawing allows us to appreciate the artist’s process and intent. It also gives us a sense of Sully's own hand through the quick, decisive strokes. This rapid method is well suited for sketching, allowing for quick adjustments and multiple ideas on one page. The paper bears witness to Sully's experimentation. It shows us a method that existed within a wider system of production, patronage, and the market. Ultimately, this sketch reflects Sully's labor. It served a vital role in the machinery of art production that supported his livelihood.