Two Studies of a Man (from sketchbook)

Art Historical Context

Francis William Edmonds, a19th-century American banker-artist, created *Two Studies of a Man around 1838 or later as part of his sketchbook practice. Rendered in iron gall ink and graphite on off-white wove papermeasuring just 6⅝ x 8 inches), these intimate drawings capture quick, observant studies of a male figure from angles. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, the work reflects the growing tradition of American genre painting during the antebellum era, when artists like Edmonds drew inspiration from everyday life to build a distinctly national visual language. Edmonds, known for his meticulous genre scenes depicting rural American vignettes, used such sketches to hone his skills in figure drawing—a crucial step before committing to larger oil paintings. Iron gall ink, a durable yet historically finicky medium prone to fading if not stored carefully, lent these studies a rich, fluid line quality, complemented by the subtle shading of graphite. These preparatory works highlight the artist's disciplined process, bridging European academic traditions with emerging American realism. As a window into 1830s artistic practice, this piece underscores how sketchbooks served as personal laboratories for creativity, offering visitors a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of American art. Gifted through the Sheila and Richard J. Schwartz Fund in 1987, it celebrates the quiet artistry of observation in a transformative period for U.S. culture.

About the Artist

Francis William Edmonds · 1806–1863

Francis William Edmonds, born on November 22, 1806, in Hudson, New York, into a prominent Quaker family as the seventh child of storekeeper and public servant Samuel Edmonds and Lydia Worth Edmonds, displayed remarkable artistic talent from youth. After Quaker schooling and farm work, he entered banking in 1823 as a clerk at the Tradesmen's Bank in New York City under his uncle Gorham Worth, a pat...