Artwork
Two Male Figures: Study for "The Good Samaritan"
Two Male Figures: Study for "The Good Samaritan" is a chalk drawing by Charles Haslewood Shannon. It dates from 1918 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in chalk: CS 1918; by later hand, upper center verso in graphite: 127/131; by later hand, center verso in graphite: set; by unknown hand, lower center in graphite: Study for "The Good Samaritan"
About this work
Overview
Charles Haslewood Shannon’s 1918 drawing, Two Male Figures: Study for “The Good Samaritan,” is a preparatory sketch executed in black and white chalk on gray laid paper. The work presents a pair of men in dynamic poses, suggesting the composition of a larger narrative painting. As a study, the drawing emphasizes gesture and spatial relationship rather than finished detail.
Subject & Meaning
The sketch captures a foreground figure leaning forward, head lowered, arms extended, while a second figure stands behind, one arm raised and the other supporting the first’s back. The interaction hints at a moment of assistance or rescue, aligning with the biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, where one man aids another in distress.
Technique & Style
Shannon employs loose, gestural chalk strokes that convey movement and immediacy. The gray laid paper provides a muted ground, allowing the white and black chalk to define form through contrast. This method mirrors the early‑20th‑century practice of using chalk for rapid figure studies, particularly in portrait and narrative planning.
History & Provenance
Created in 1918, the drawing was part of Shannon’s preparatory work for a larger canvas titled The Good Samaritan. Though primarily known for portraiture, Shannon’s studies such as this illustrate his broader engagement with narrative subjects. The piece now resides in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, where it is catalogued among his drawings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Haslewood Shannon (26 April 1863 – 18 March 1937) was an English artist best known for his portraits.
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