The Highway Robbery
David Allan captures the sheer panic of an 18th-century highway robbery in this lively sketch. A terrified traveler on a pale horse throws his hands up in surrender as three armed riders on galloping steeds close in, pistols drawn and swords flashing. Below them, a lone figure on a rearing brown horse seems to watch the chaos unfold, perhaps a latecomer to the ambush. The loose, expressive lines and washes of color suggest this is a preparatory study for a larger work, freezing a moment of high-stakes drama with a sense of frantic motion.
- Technique
- Pen and ink with watercolor wash
- Material
- Paper
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