Artwork

Group of Figures

Group of Figures, by John Flaxman, graphite, 1790
Group of Figures, by John Flaxman, graphite, 1790

Group of Figures is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist John Flaxman. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Group of Figures is a graphite drawing created by John Flaxman in 1790. It showcases the artist's characteristic linear style and disciplined approach to form and composition.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts three small figures sitting together, rendered in simple outlines with minimal detail. The loose and quick execution suggests a rough draft or study, rather than a finished work.

Technique & Style

Executed in graphite on pale beige paper, the drawing features light and wobbly lines, with no shading or color. The artist's use of a single medium and straightforward technique emphasizes the figures' contours and basic forms.

History & Provenance

John Flaxman, an English sculptor and draughtsman, created this work after training as a modeller for Josiah Wedgwood's pottery and traveling to Rome, where his distinctive style developed.

Artist & collection

Portrait of John Flaxman

Artist

John Flaxman

John Flaxman (6 July 1755 – 7 December 1826) was an English sculptor and draughtsman who was a leading figure in British and European Neoclassicism.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.