Study after Joshua Reynolds’s Portrait of Cornet Nehemiah Winter, 11th Dragoons 

This sketch was done by Hercules Brabazon Brabazon, after a portrait by Joshua Reynolds. Although the original was an oil painting, Brabazon chose the immediacy of pastels and charcoal, which allowed him to quickly capture the essence of Reynolds's composition. See how he uses broad, energetic strokes to define the figure's form. The smudged charcoal creates a sense of atmosphere and movement, very different from the polished, academic style of Reynolds. Brabazon, who came from a wealthy background, was an amateur artist, meaning that he was able to make art unbound by the demands of the market. He was free to experiment with materials and techniques, focusing on the act of creation itself. This approach reflects a shift in the art world, where spontaneity and personal expression were valued. By embracing the expressive potential of humble materials like pastel and charcoal, Brabazon challenges traditional distinctions between the fine arts and more immediate forms of mark-making. The ease and speed of these media allowed him to capture the fleeting qualities of light and color, prioritizing feeling over strict representation.