Sketch of a Sphinx [?] (verso)

Executed in graphite, the sketch employs loose, confident lines to outline the animal’s anatomy and folded wings. The composition is mirrored horizontally compared with the final painting, indicating a preparatory reversal that allowed Merson to explore balance and orientation before committing to oil.

Created as a preparatory study for the canvas that debuted at the 1879 Paris Salon, the drawing likely originated in Merson’s studio during the painting’s development. After the painting’s acclaim, the artist produced several painted replicas; this sketch remains a singular, earlier record of the concept.

The 1879 Salon highlighted a surge of interest in biblical subjects rendered with imaginative twists. Merson’s inclusion of a sphinx—a creature associated with ancient Egypt—reflects contemporary fascination with exoticism and the merging of Christian iconography with non‑Western motifs.

While the sketch itself is modest in scale, it offers insight into Merson’s creative process and the evolution of a work that achieved notable popularity. Its mirrored orientation underscores the artist’s methodical approach to composition, informing scholars of 19th‑century preparatory practices.