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Four Oval Compositions

Sawrey Gilpin

1775

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

Four Oval Compositions is a 1775 ink by Sawrey Gilpin, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Sawrey Gilpin
When & what style?: 1775 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows four quick, loose scenes with people in simple, flowing poses. Each scene is framed in an oval, like snapshots. The lines are rough, and the figures look like they’re moving—some standing, others sitting or kneeling. The artist used light washes of gray and yellow to give a soft, sketchy feel, almost like a draft. Notice how the figures are all connected, like a story unfolding in parts. The loose, expressive lines suggest the artist was more interested in mood than detail. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build texture with lines.