Study for "The Great Seal of the State of Delaware"

Sully employed loose, rapid brushstrokes typical of watercolor studies, allowing the pigments to build up in translucent layers. Pen and black ink delineate the figures and details of the shield, while the underlying laid paper contributes a subtle texture of faint blue and brown tones. The overall effect is sketchy and unfinished, emphasizing the exploratory nature of the work.

The drawing was produced as a preparatory piece for the official seal, likely commissioned by Delaware authorities in the mid‑19th century. It remained in private hands before entering a museum collection, where it is displayed as part of the documentation of state symbolism and Sully's broader oeuvre.

During the 1840s, American states sought distinctive seals to convey civic identity. Sully, known primarily for portraiture, applied his skill in rendering narrative detail to this civic commission, integrating agrarian and maritime motifs that reflected Delaware's economic foundations.