Study for "The Siege of Gibraltar": Officer in Four Poses 1785 - 1786

This graphite drawing by John Singleton Copley, a prominent American painter, is a study for his large-scale painting *The Siege of Gibraltar* (1787-1791). The work depicts four different poses of an officer in military garb, showcasing Copley's meticulous attention to detail and his mastery of figure drawing. This preparatory sketch provides a glimpse into the artist's creative process and the evolution of his composition for the final painting, which celebrates British military prowess during the Great Siege of Gibraltar.