Artwork
Study for The Siege of Gibraltar

Study for The Siege of Gibraltar is a drawing by the Romanticist artist John Singleton Copley. It dates from 1786 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Study for The Siege of Gibraltar is a drawing created by John Singleton Copley around 1786. It is a preparatory work for a larger history painting and is now held in the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a man ascending a rope, his body twisted in a dynamic pose. The scene is related to the Great Siege of Gibraltar, a significant military event during the American Revolutionary War.
Technique & Style
Copley's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of dynamic movement, with the dark figure of the climber set against a muted grey-blue background. The contrast between light and dark tones emphasizes the physicality of the scene.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Singleton Copley (July 3, 1738 – September 9, 1815) was an American-born British painter active in both the Thirteen Colonies and England.








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