Studies of Fairies with a Pair of Hands (possibly representing the Opening of Pandora's Box) 1784

This 1784 drawing by William Lock the Younger, titled “Studies of Fairies with a Pair of Hands (possibly representing the Opening of Pandora's Box),” depicts a scene from Greek mythology. The artwork features a central figure in a white cloak, surrounded by smaller figures, and two large hands at the top of the composition. The scene is possibly inspired by the opening of Pandora's Box, a story that explores the consequences of curiosity and the release of evils into the world. This drawing highlights Lock the Younger's skill in rendering human figures in a loose and expressive style, typical of his later works.