(From Sketchbook) 1810 - 1820

Thomas Sully, an artist active in the late 18th and mid 19th century, created this sketchbook drawing with pen and brown ink with gray wash on paper. Sully was best known for his portraits of prominent figures, like Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson, and his career coincided with a period of significant social and political change in the United States. This sketch gives us a peek into Sully's artistic process, revealing his approach to composition and his interest in capturing human figures in dynamic poses. On the left we see figures engaged in a scene reminiscent of classical narratives, while on the right, we find a delicate study of a mother and child. The artwork invites us to contemplate the interplay between classical ideals and the realities of early American life. Sully’s sketches speak to the complexities of identity, representation, and cultural exchange during this transformative period in American history.