Design for Sculpted Ornament 1820 - 1855

This anonymous drawing, "Design for Sculpted Ornament," dating from 1820 to 1855, depicts a detailed rendering of a mythical sea creature with a horse's head and a serpentine tail. The piece showcases the artist's skill in conveying form and detail through the use of shading, suggesting the texture of a sculpted ornament. This design likely served as a preparatory study for a larger-scale sculpture, highlighting the important role of drawings in the creative process of three-dimensional art. The artwork, currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, offers insight into the artistic practices of the 19th century.