Artwork

Roger de Coverley and the Gypsies [verso]

Roger de Coverley and the Gypsies [verso], by Thomas Stothard, ink, 1803
Roger de Coverley and the Gypsies [verso], by Thomas Stothard, ink, 1803

Roger de Coverley and the Gypsies [verso] is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Thomas Stothard. It dates from 1803 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This drawing, executed in pen and brown ink on wove paper, is a work by Thomas Stothard, a British artist active during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a scene related to the fictional character Roger de Coverley, reflecting Stothard's interest in illustrating literary subjects. The composition includes figures in various poses, some dressed in old-fashioned attire, while others are nude.

Technique & Style

The sketch is characterized by quick, loose lines and a range of techniques, including cross-hatching, which creates shading through crisscrossed lines. The varying line quality, from light to more defined, suggests a rapid execution.

Context

The inclusion of practice figures, likely the nude forms, alongside the main scene indicates the artist's process and attention to rendering the human form.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Thomas Stothard

Artist

Thomas Stothard

Thomas Stothard (17 August 1755 – 27 April 1834) was a British painter, illustrator and engraver.

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