Studies of Wings
Medium
figures
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1914-38-184
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Studies of Wings** by Francis Augustus Lath (American, 1849–1909), created circa 5, invites visitors into the intimate world of an artist's preparatory process. Housed in the Smithsonian American Museum, this work is classified and described in medium as *figures*, suggesting detailed renderings focused on the form and anatomy of wings—likely sketched to explore structure, texture, and movement. In the late 19th, American artists like Lathrop often produced such studies as foundational steps for larger paintings, illustrations, or designs. These sketches capture the essence of wings, evokin...