Who painted Figure Studies [verso]?

Figure Studies [verso] was painted by Thomas Sully in 1815.

Where can I see Figure Studies [verso]?

Figure Studies [verso] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Figure Studies [verso]?

Figure Studies [verso] is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Figure Studies [verso]

Thomas Sully , 1815

Figure Studies [verso] is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist Thomas Sully. It dates from 1815 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Figure Studies [verso] is a graphite drawing on laid paper attributed to American painter Thomas Sully, dated around 1815. The work consists of two small, spontaneous sketches positioned on the reverse side of a sheet, illustrating the artist’s interest in capturing human gesture.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a standing figure with crossed arms, suggesting a moment of pause, alongside a second figure caught in motion, grasping an unseen object. The emphasis lies in the portrayal of bodily attitude and implied narrative rather than detailed representation.

Technique & Style

Executed with graphite on a light‑tan, faintly gridded paper, the lines are deliberately loose yet assured, reflecting a rapid, gestural approach. Sully’s handling prioritises the study of movement and posture, typical of preparatory sketches intended to inform larger painted works.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1815, the drawing likely served as a study for subsequent compositions in Sully’s oeuvre. Its placement on the verso of another sheet indicates a utilitarian use of material, common among artists of the early nineteenth century who reused paper for multiple exercises.

Artist & collection

Artist

Thomas Sully

Thomas Sully was an English-American portrait painter. He was born in England, became a naturalized American citizen in 1809, and lived most of his life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, including in the Thomas Sully…