Drapery Study
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1914-38-157
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Drapery Study** Francis Augustus Lathrop (American, 1849–1909), created around 1895, offers a glimpse into the meticulous preparatory work of a prominent figure in late 19th-century American. Lathrop, trained in Europe and later a key player in the Aesthetic Movement and decorative arts, renowned for his stained-glass designs, murals, and that blended realism with ornamental beauty. This piece, classified as a figure study from the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection, exemplifies the academic tradition of drapery sketches—essential exercises for mastering the interplay of light, shado...