Man and Woman in Attitudes of Distress n.d.

Henry Tresham created this ink wash drawing of a distressed man and woman sometime between 1751 and 1814. The art of Tresham and his contemporaries was deeply influenced by the academic institutions of the time. The Royal Academy, of which he was a member, promoted history painting as the highest form of art, emphasizing moral lessons drawn from classical literature and history. Here, the exaggerated emotions and classical drapery of the figures reflect this academic taste. Made in England, this drawing tells us much about the cultural values of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when artists looked to the past for models of virtue and tragedy. Understanding this drawing involves researching the artistic conventions of the period and the role of the Royal Academy in shaping artistic taste. By studying these institutional forces, we gain deeper insights into the social and cultural context of Tresham's art.