Two Seated Men and a Standing Boy (Study for 'The Covenanters' Baptism') 1830

George Harvey made this oil on paper as a study for his painting, ‘The Covenanters’ Baptism.’ Look closely and you’ll see it’s both a painting and a drawing. Harvey has used broad, expressive brushstrokes of oil paint to capture the figures, but other areas are only lightly sketched in pencil. The contrast is striking, and emphasizes the materiality of the piece – the way the oil sits on the surface of the paper, opaque and textured, compared to the pale, almost ghostly pencil lines. This use of mixed media may seem unusual, but it speaks to the function of the artwork as a study. It's a glimpse into the artist’s working process, a moment of contemplation before the act of creation. It suggests how the artist worked through multiple layers of conception, how he built his understanding of the composition through the application of layers, line, and paint, adding depth and complexity. This insight into the working method is a reminder that art isn’t just about the finished product, but also the journey of creation.