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Sheet of Studies

John Flaxman

1790

graphite

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Allegory

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 is loose and fast, like quick notes. On the top, two figures crouch near a tree branch. Below, three more shapes stand or sit—one looks like a person, another like a small animal or throne. The lines are uneven, some dark, some faint. The paper has light stains. The artist didn’t finish these. They seem like practice for bigger ideas. The top figures might be people or mythical beings, but it’s unclear. Next, check out Romanticism to see how artists used loose sketches like this.