Drapery Study; Two Figures Pulling a Pole

1786

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Drapery Study; Two Figures Pulling a Pole is a 1786 by John Singleton Copley, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: John Singleton Copley
When & what style?: 1786 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This sketch shows two people struggling with a long pole. One person is kneeling, wrapped in a heavy cloth that falls in loose folds. The other stands, leaning back as they both push against the pole. The lines are quick and rough, like a quick practice instead of a finished drawing. The rough edges and simple shapes focus on how the cloth moves and how the bodies twist. This style was common in early sketches before artists painted the final work. If you like this sketchy style, look up chiaroscuro next to see how artists used light and shadow.