The Three Graces
1995
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1995
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
The Three Graces is a 1995 by John Stanton Ward, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This sketch shows three nude figures standing close together. The first two on the left are turned slightly away, their arms draped around each other. The third figure faces outward, her arm resting on the shoulder of the middle figure. The background is mostly blank, with just a few faint lines suggesting a distant shape. The drawing looks unfinished, with loose, sketchy lines that feel quick and exploratory. The figures’ poses are simple but confident, almost like a rough study for a bigger work. Check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shading with repeated lines.
This sketch by John Stanton Ward presents three views of Antonio Canova’s sculpture *The Three Graces*, capturing its composition from different angles. Created as a preparatory study, the drawing was later donated to the museum to support efforts to acquire the original marble sculpture. The work serves as a visual reference, illustrating the classical arrangement of the three figures in Canova’s design.
Read the full account in the museum source.
John Stanton Ward CBE was an English portrait artist, landscape painter and illustrator. His subjects included British royalty and celebrities.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
