Study for "Alexander III, King of Scotland, Saved from a Stag by Colin Fitzgerald" 1784

This is Benjamin West's graphite study, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, for a painting depicting Alexander III's dramatic rescue. Notice the frenetic energy conveyed through West's dynamic use of line. The composition is a whirl of motion, a semiotic representation of chaos and heroic intervention. The swirling graphite lines create a sense of urgency, drawing us into the heart of the scene. The stark contrast between the dark lines and the white of the paper heightens the drama, emphasizing the struggle between man and beast. The use of line creates a sense of depth, but also destabilizes any fixed perspective. The viewer is left to piece together the narrative, much like deciphering a complex code. This challenges the traditional heroic narrative, suggesting that even in moments of bravery, there is an underlying sense of instability and uncertainty.