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Study for a Lunette

Charles Sprague Pearce

1894

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Study for a Lunette is a 1894 graphite by Charles Sprague Pearce, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Charles Sprague Pearce
When & what style?: 1894 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a rough, quick drawing of a building with arched windows. The lines are loose and uneven, like someone was jotting down ideas fast. The paper is tan, and the graphite looks smudged in spots. Notice how the artist didn’t smooth out the lines—it feels more like a sketch than a finished work. The building looks old, with a dome and columns, but it’s drawn in a simple, almost abstract way. If you like this style, look up Pearce, Charles Sprague for more of his work.