(From Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

Curator: This expressive drawing is attributed to Thomas Sully, created sometime between 1810 and 1820. It is part of a sketchbook currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The materials are listed as ink and pencil on paper. Editor: Gosh, what a chaotic composition! But chaotic in that beautiful, romantic way, you know? Like a tempest brewing inside a family scene. All these swirls and smudges… I feel instantly drawn in. Curator: Indeed, the piece encapsulates many elements we often associate with Romanticism. Observe how the figures seem swept up in heightened emotion. Sully places emphasis on subjective experience, rather than perfect realism. Editor: That central figure, with his beard and theatrical gestures… He seems overwhelmed by… grief? Maybe regret? And the way the younger figures cling to each other—it speaks to a deep bond, but also a shared sorrow. Is that a violin on the floor? It all hints at some narrative we can't quite grasp. Curator: That's quite perceptive. The sketch invites speculation, although the precise subject isn't explicitly revealed. It offers a snapshot into Sully’s creative process, revealing how he considered relationships and expressions for possible deployment in his larger compositions. We see such arrangements played out within the culture through forms like literature or musical expression. Editor: And that incompleteness, that sense of a story left untold, only makes it more potent. It leaves room for my own imagination to wander, to weave my own tales around these characters. Like overhearing a snippet of a whispered secret, you know? It begs for an explanation and draws the viewer to project into the work what could potentially fill the artist's intent. Curator: Precisely. While lacking the polished finish of his formal portraits, the dynamism and intimacy in this sketch reveal a fascinating aspect of Sully’s artistic development, deeply affected by the historical climate, and giving rise to the growth of artistic interpretation. Editor: For me, it’s a raw glimpse into human vulnerability. The kind of emotion you rarely see so exposed. And sometimes, a glimpse is all you need to connect. I can’t believe such a simple little thing could speak such volumes! Curator: I concur that this sketch provides valuable insight, underscoring Sully's place within the history of American art and the art historical movements of his period.