Sketches of Five Statues: Love, Aristides, Putto with a Cat, Psyche, and Putto with a Dog 1845 - 1855

This graphite drawing by John Gibson, dated 1845–55, features five preliminary sketches for sculptures. The sketches are titled “Love,” “Aristides,” “Putto with a Cat,” “Psyche,” and “Putto with a Dog.” The artist was known for his neoclassical approach, which is evident in the sculptures’ idealized forms and poses. These sketches are preparatory drawings for the artist’s sculptures that show the artist’s process in developing his ideas for future sculptures. The sketches are now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.