Two Seated Figures; One Sleeping Figure; Standing Man Leaning on Ship Railing (from Sketchbook)

Art Historical Context

In the early 19th century, artist Thomas Sully, renowned for his elegant portraits influenced by British masters like Sir Joshua Reynolds, filled his sketchbooks with quick, expressive studies of the human figure. This page from one such sketchbook, dated 1810–20, captures four men in casual poses: two seated figures one sleeping figure, and a standing man leaning thoughtfully on a ship railing. Rendered in ink and wash on paper (9 x 11½ inches), it exemplifies Sully's fluid draftsmanship during a prolific period when he worked primarily in Philadelphia after his formative years in London. The medium of ink and wash—diluted ink brushed for soft tonal effects—allowed Sully to achieve depth and movement swiftly, ideal for preparatory work that informed his grander oil portraits. These unpolished vignettes offer a rare glimpse into the artist's observational process, blending everyday realism with neoclassical poise. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing since 1953 via the Rogers Fund, the drawing highlights the vitality of American draftsmanship at a time when the young nation was forging its artistic identity amid maritime expansion and portraiture's rise. Visitors will appreciate how Sully's sketches humanize his subjects, evoking quiet moments aboard ships or in repose—timeless scenes that bridge the artist's studio and the wider world.

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...