Inside Front Cover (from Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

Thomas Sully made this drawing, called “Inside Front Cover (from Sketchbook)”, sometime in the early to mid-19th century. Look closely at the page. You’ll see it’s filled with rapid sketches in ink, each figure rendered with swift, confident strokes. Note how Sully used a network of interwoven lines to capture movement and anatomy. The central nude figure, caught mid-stride with arms raised, is dynamic. Here, Sully captured a sense of theatricality. The figure looks poised as if ready to take center stage. Consider the other sketches around the primary figure. Do they serve as studies? A formalist approach suggests we view them as compositional elements within a structured whole. These serve as echoes or variations of the primary form. They demonstrate a visual rhythm across the page. Ultimately, this page isn’t a collection of studies, but a field of experimentation. See how the forms are active, as Sully explores the possibilities of line and form.