Study of Apollo for "Apollo and Daphne" c. 1918

This is a graphite on paper study of Apollo, prepared by John Singer Sargent for his painting "Apollo and Daphne". You can see the grid Sargent used to transfer the figure to a larger canvas, a method that lays bare the art-making process. Look at the lines describing Apollo's calf muscle, so clear and concise. It's obvious that Sargent relished working with the push and pull of light and shadow. It's not just about replicating reality. It's about accentuating the dynamism of the figure. It reminds me of Rubens. Both artists share a certain exuberance in capturing the human form in motion. But while Rubens' figures are full of theatrical drama, Sargent's Apollo has a lightness of touch, a sense of effortlessness, and it is this that draws me in. The magic is in the marks.