Half-length Bearded Man in Armor and Cape, Drawing Sword (Macbeth?); Three Standing Angels (or Witches?); Male Figure in Skins (from Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

This is a sketch by Thomas Sully, made with graphite and gray wash on paper. Sully was active in the late 18th and early to mid-19th century, a period marked by significant social changes, including evolving ideas about masculinity and the rise of Romanticism. Sully's sketch offers insight into the theatrical and literary interests of his time. The central figure, possibly Macbeth, is depicted with emotive intensity as he draws his sword. Note the ethereal figures in the background. Are they angels, or perhaps the witches who prophecy Macbeth's ascent and downfall? These figures might represent the internal conflicts and external pressures faced by men navigating roles dictated by honor, ambition, and morality. Sully’s sketch invites us to consider how societal expectations weigh on the individual, and how one's identity is forged in the crucible of ambition and consequence. It asks us to feel the tension between destiny and free will, themes that resonate across time and touch upon the universal human condition.