Sketch of Figural Group for Ascension
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1914-38-314
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Francis Augustus Lathrop (9–1909), an American artist influenced by the Aesthetic Movement and Pre-Raphaelite, created this *Sketch of Figural Group Ascension* around 189. Trained in Europe and known for his intricate designs in stained glass, murals, and, Lathrop bridged fine art and decorative traditions during the Gilded Age. This preparatory drawing, housed in the Smithsonian American Art, captures his early-stage exploration of dynamic human forms, likely intended for a larger commission—perhaps a religious or allegorical mural evoking spiritual ascent. As a study of figures in motion, t...