Untitled
19
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
19
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This sketch shows two hands holding a long, thin object—maybe a sword or a spear—pointed upward. The hands look strong but relaxed, with fingers slightly spread. Behind them, there’s a rough outline of a draped cloth or robe, and the whole scene is drawn in loose, quick pencil lines. The date on the paper (Sept 29, 1796) suggests this was made over 200 years ago. The artist focused on the hands and the object they hold, leaving the rest simple and sketchy. If you like this style, check out cross-hatching—a technique that uses layers of parallel lines to create shading.
![Father of the Artist [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/74e24a3aa4f42c1a/thumb.webp)
