Right Arm, study for Equestrian Statue

Art Historical Context

This drawing by Solon H. Borum, dated 1905, is focused study of a right created as preparation for an equestrian statue. Such sketches allowed sculptors to refine anatomy, gesture, and the sense of movement essential to depicting a rider on horseback. As a two-dimensional work, it captures the artist's careful observation of form and musculature before committing to the more permanent materials of sculpture. Equestrian monuments have long conveyed authority and heroism, from ancient Roman examples through the Renaissance and into modern public art. Borglum's study reflects the meticulous planning required for these ambitious works in the early twentieth century, when American artists frequently produced large-scale commemorative sculptures. Held in the Smithsonian American Art Museum as a gift of Mr. and Mrs. A. Mervyn Davies, the drawing offers visitors insight into the hidden labor behind finished monuments and the enduring value of preparatory drawings in an artist's practice.