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Sheet of Studies

John Flaxman

1790

graphite

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

Sheet of Studies is a 1790 graphite by John Flaxman, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: John Flaxman
When & what style?: 1790 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows quick, loose drawings of people. Some are huddled together in a group. Others stand alone, barely defined. The lines are light and shaky, like hurried notes. The artist focused on shapes, not details. The figures look like they’re moving, but it’s hard to tell what they’re doing. The paper is plain, and the pencil marks are the only thing holding it together. Look up Romanticism next to see how artists used emotion over exactness.