Study
c. 1719
Medium
Pen and brown ink with brush and tan and gray wash on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
32.3 × 20.2 cm (12 3/4 × 8 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
83548
Art Historical Context
James Thornhill's *Study* (c. 1719) offers a captivating glimpse into the preparatory world of one of England's foremost Baroque artists. Thornhill (1675–1734), knighted by George I and renowned for grand historical murals at St. Paul's Cathedral and the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, was a master of illusionistic painting. Created during the height of his career, this drawing exemplifies the meticulous planning behind his large-scale commissions, blending English tradition with Italian Baroque influences from masters like Rubens. Executed in pen and brown ink with subtle brush-applied...