Who painted An Upraised Arm?

An Upraised Arm was painted by David, Sir Wilkie in 1813.

Where can I see An Upraised Arm?

An Upraised Arm is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is An Upraised Arm?

An Upraised Arm is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

An Upraised Arm

David, Sir Wilkie , 1813

An Upraised Arm is a chalk drawing by the Romanticist artist David, Sir Wilkie. It dates from 1813 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1813 by Sir David Wilkie, An Upraised Arm is a drawing executed in black and red chalks with white highlights on wove paper. The composition isolates a single forearm raised, the hand open as if extending toward an unseen point. The work functions as a brief study, emphasizing gesture and the play of light across flesh rather than narrative detail.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a moment of kinetic tension: an arm lifted, fingers spread, suggesting an act of reaching or offering. By focusing solely on the limb, Wilkie isolates the human gesture, inviting viewers to contemplate the physicality of movement and the subtle expression conveyed through posture alone.

Technique & Style

Wilkie employed rapid, gestural strokes to delineate the arm’s form, using black chalk for the basic contour and red chalk to render veins and shadowed planes. White chalk provides highlights that suggest reflected light on the skin’s surface. The loose application and limited palette give the drawing a spontaneous, study-like quality, characteristic of preparatory sketches of the period.

History & Provenance

An Upraised Arm was produced early in Wilkie’s career, shortly after his rise to prominence as a genre painter. The drawing remains in a private collection, having passed through several hands since its creation, though detailed provenance records are sparse.

Context

The early nineteenth century saw artists frequently producing quick studies to investigate anatomy, light, and movement. Wilkie’s drawing aligns with this practice, reflecting the broader academic emphasis on mastering the human figure through direct observation and rapid rendering techniques.