Woman Prostrate Before a Nobleman; Nude Bather Seated on a Rock (Diana?) (from Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

Thomas Sully made this sketch with graphite on paper. Sully lived through a time of massive social upheaval, including revolutions in America and France, and his work often reflected the rigid societal structures of the time. Here, the contrast between the two scenes is striking. On one side, a woman is prostrate, kneeling before a nobleman, a stark display of submission and power dynamics. This is juxtaposed with the figure of a nude bather, possibly Diana, seated on a rock, evoking classical ideals of beauty and purity. The composition invites us to consider the roles women were expected to perform in society: either subservient to male authority or idealized as objects of aesthetic contemplation. Sully’s sketch captures a moment of tension, leaving us to ponder the emotional weight of these representations and their impact on the lived experiences of women.