A Family Group

David, Sir Wilkie

1835

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century

About this work

This sketch shows a group of five people sitting and standing in a room. The lines are loose and quick, almost like a hurried drawing. One person on the right holds a child, while another sits with their legs crossed. The walls and furniture are barely suggested with faint strokes. The artist used ink and wash to create shadows and depth, making the figures stand out. The paper has a warm, aged look, like it’s been handled a lot. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build texture with lines.