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Sheet of Studies [recto and verso]

John Flaxman

1790

graphite

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

Sheet of Studies [recto and verso] 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 looks like a loose, tangled mess of lines and shapes. You see swirls, dots, and rough figures that don’t quite form anything clear—just a jumble of movement. The paper is worn, with some spots where the ink or wash has blurred or faded. The artist seems to be playing with quick, sketchy marks instead of careful details. It’s like they’re exploring ideas rather than finishing a single picture. If you like this style, check out cross-hatching.