Seated man in circular medallion (design for a book illustration) 1770 - 1834

Thomas Stothard made this pencil sketch on paper, titled "Seated man in circular medallion," likely in England during the late 18th or early 19th century. It's a preparatory drawing, probably intended as a book illustration. The image depicts a seated man in a relaxed pose, framed by a decorative medallion. During this period, book illustrations were a burgeoning industry, playing a crucial role in disseminating literature and shaping public imagination. Stothard was a key figure in this movement, producing thousands of designs for books of poetry and novels. This particular sketch, with its classical motifs and focus on the individual, reflects the era’s interest in humanism. How does it relate to the broader social and cultural context of the time? To answer this we might ask, what kind of stories Stothard illustrated? Were they progressive, conservative, didactic, or purely for entertainment? Exploring his other works and the books they accompanied can give us insight into the social role of art in Georgian and Regency England.