Study for "The Siege of Gibraltar": Three Figures 1785 - 1786

John Singleton Copley created this graphite on paper drawing as a study for his painting "The Siege of Gibraltar," a dramatic scene from the American Revolutionary War. The artist's hand is evident in the expressive lines that define the figures' anatomy and clothing. The medium allows for a high degree of detail, seen in the shading and musculature. The grid that underlies the sketch is important, revealing the system that Copley used to enlarge and transfer his composition. This reveals much about Copley’s engagement with both traditional and new approaches to painting, at a time when the status of artists was evolving in relation to the market. Copley was acutely aware of how his paintings would be received, and of the social and political implications of depicting such scenes. As such, the drawing represents not just a technical exercise, but an engagement with the very themes of conflict and heroism that would define his art.