Creation of Adam; Sleeping Adam, after Michaelangelo; Other Figures; Profile of Head of Man in Helmut (from Sketchbook)

Art Historical Context

In this lively sketchbook page from around 1810–1820, American artist Thomas Sully pays homage to Michelangelo's Renaissance masterpieces. Titled *Creation of Adam; Sleeping, after Michelangelo; Other Figures; Profile of Head of Man in Helmet*, features dynamic studies of muscular male nudes, including the iconic near-touch of God's finger to Adam's in the Sistine Chapel ceiling, a reclining Sleeping Adam, and a helmeted profile head. Sully, a prominent Philadelphia portraitist influenced by European Romanticism during his time in England, captured these in fluid ink lines and subtle washes on paper (9 x 11½ inches), showcasing his fascination with anatomical precision and dramatic poses. Created during Sully's mature career, this work reflects the transatlantic artistic exchange in early 19th-century America, where artists like him bridged classical antiquity and Renaissance grandeur with emerging national identity. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing (Rogers Fund, 1953), it highlights how American painters honed skills through copying Old Masters, vital for mastering the male nude—a symbol of idealized strength and divinity. Sully's expressive wash technique adds depth and movement, making these sketches not just exercises but vibrant explorations of human form. For visitors, it's a window into an artist's studio, revealing the labor behind portraiture's polish and the enduring allure of Michelangelo's genius.

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...