Sketch, Figure in Uniform with Book
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
Accession Number
1938-88-8375
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Fortunato Duranti (1787–1863), an Italian artist, created this expressive drawing between 1820 and 1850. Titled *Sketch, Figure in Uniform with Book*, the work depicts a uniformed figure holding a volume, suggesting themes of duty, learning, or quiet reflection during a transformative era in European history. Duranti’s choice of medium—a spontaneous drawing—reveals the artist’s skill in capturing gesture and presence with economical lines. Drawings like this one often served as studies or personal notations rather than finished pieces, offering modern viewers an intimate glimpse into an artis...