Un Cativo n.d.

"Un Cativo" is a graphite drawing by Jonathan Richardson, the elder, now in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The work depicts a man in profile, likely a portrait study. The drawing is executed in a simple, direct style, characteristic of Richardson’s work. The sitter’s clothing and posture suggest a man of social standing, and the inscription "in cativo" in the lower right corner might indicate the subject was a prisoner. This artwork exemplifies the use of graphite in portraiture during the 18th century.