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Sheet of Studies, including a Man Battling a Centaur

John Flaxman

1790

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

Sheet of Studies, including a Man Battling a Centaur 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 lines of a chaotic fight. A human struggles with a half-man, half-horse creature on the left, while other figures scramble in the background. The paper is pale, and the drawing looks hurried, almost like scribbles. The artist used light pencil strokes to suggest movement and energy. This style fits the Romantic period, where emotion and drama were key. Look up Romanticism next to see more art like this.