Artwork

A Left Hand Holding a Staff and a Right Hand Holding a Glove and Riding Crop(?)

A Left Hand Holding a Staff and a Right Hand Holding a Glove and Riding Crop(?) is a graphite drawing by the Romanticist artist Paul Meyerheim. It dates from 1878 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:verso: rough graphite sketch of legs
Markings: Marked:The artist's studio stamp (Lugt 1814)

About this work

Overview

Paul Meyerheim’s 1878 drawing, titled A Left Hand Holding a Staff and a Right Hand Holding a Glove and Riding Crop, is executed in graphite with a brown wash on buff‑colored wove paper. The composition isolates two hands, each grasping a distinct object, and presents them as the sole visual focus of the work.

Subject & Meaning

The left hand is depicted clutching a staff, while the right hand bears a glove and a riding crop, suggesting a possible equestrian or hunting context. By concentrating on the gestures and the objects held, Meyerheim invites contemplation of function, status, and the tactile qualities of everyday tools.

Technique & Style

Meyerheim employs a realistic drawing approach, rendering skin texture through fine lines, cross‑hatching, and subtle shading. The brown wash overlays the graphite, imparting warmth and a modest tonal depth that enhances the three‑dimensional illusion of flesh and the materiality of the objects.

History & Provenance

Created in 1878, the drawing is a representative example of Meyerheim’s late‑nineteenth‑century draftsmanship. It remains catalogued under the artist’s name, providing insight into his interest in detailed studies of human anatomy and everyday implements.