The Siege of Gibraltar
Captured in vigorous strokes on blue paper, this sketch shows a man in 18th-century attire reaching desperately upward, perhaps climbing a rope during a battle. It’s a preparatory study by John Singleton Copley for his monumental painting 'The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar' (often referred to as The Siege of Gibraltar). Copley was obsessed with getting the action right, so he drew hundreds of figures like this to ensure the final massive canvas felt chaotic and heroic. It’s a great example of how grand history paintings started with gritty, energetic sketches.
- Technique
- chalk on blue paper
- Material
- paper
Views: 1