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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 a group of people tangled together in a chaotic pile. Some are lying down, others half-standing, all crammed close. The lines are light and quick, like a hurried pencil drawing—no color, just shades of gray. The drawing looks like a practice piece, maybe for a bigger work. The artist focused on movement and crowding, not details. Next, check out Romanticism to see how artists used emotion and drama in their work.