Drapery Study for "Mary and Elizabeth Royall"

Copley employed graphite for the deeper shadows and white chalk for highlights, creating a broad tonal range that models the surface of the fabric. The contrast between dark and light gives the paper a sense of three‑dimensionality, while the loose, gestural strokes reveal the artist’s exploratory approach to texture.

The drawing was executed as part of Copley’s preparatory work for the commissioned portrait of the Royall sisters. It remains a documented example of his early American practice, predating his later, larger oil paintings.