(From Sketchbook)

Art Historical Context

Thomas Sully's *(From Sketchbook)*, created between 1810 and 1820, offers a glimpse into the working process of one of America's foremost portrait painters. Rendered in ink and wash on paper, this intimate 9 x 11½-inch sheet captures dynamic studies of men and horses, preparatory drawings from Sully's personal sketchbook. Housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, it exemplifies early 19th-century American draftsmanship, acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1953. Sully (1783–1872), a Philadelphia-based artist of British descent, blended neoclassical precision with romantic flair, drawing inspiration from masters like Sir Joshua Reynolds. Ink and wash—a technique using fluid brushstrokes of diluted ink to build tonal depth—allowed for quick, expressive sketches ideal for capturing the energy of horses and the poised figures of men, common motifs in equestrian portraits symbolizing status and vitality in Federal-era America. These unpolished studies highlight Sully's meticulous preparation for his grand oil portraits, revealing the artist's hand in motion. For visitors, they bridge the gap between raw creativity and finished masterpieces, underscoring the vital role of sketchbooks in shaping American Romantic art during a time of national growth and cultural aspiration.

About the Artist

Thomas Sully · 1783–1872

Thomas Sully, born on June 19, 1783, in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, to actor parents Matthew Sully and Sarah Chester, emigrated with his family to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1792. Raised in a theatrical environment, young Thomas debuted as a tumbler at age 11 before discovering his artistic talent. He studied miniature painting with his brother Lawrence Sully, brother-in-law Jean Belzon...