Women Being Abducted by Two Men with Fallen Figure Beneath (from Sketchbook)

Art Historical Context

Thomas Sully's *Women Being Abducted by Men with Fallen Figure Beneath*, from his sketchbook dated 1810–20, captures a moment of intense drama in fluid ink lines on paper. As a leading American portraitist of the early 19th, Sully—born in England but flourishing in Philadelphia—often explored dynamic compositions beyond his famous portraits of figures like Queen Victoria. This intimate sketch, measuring just 9 x 11½ inches, reveals his preparatory process, blending neoclassical poise with emerging Romantic energy in a scene evoking abduction and struggle among men and women. Rendered in ink, the medium highlights Sully's mastery of quick, expressive strokes, allowing for spontaneous exploration of anatomy and movement. Such sketchbook pages were vital tools for artists like Sully, who drew inspiration from European masters while adapting to America's growing cultural identity. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing since its acquisition via the Rogers Fund in 1953, it offers a rare glimpse into the private workings of an artist shaping early American visual narrative. This work underscores the period's fascination with theatrical history painting, bridging personal study and grand ambition in a nascent national art scene.

About the Artist

Thomas Sully · 1783–1872

Thomas Sully, born on June 19, 1783, in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, to actor parents Matthew Sully and Sarah Chester, emigrated with his family to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1792. Raised in a theatrical environment, young Thomas debuted as a tumbler at age 11 before discovering his artistic talent. He studied miniature painting with his brother Lawrence Sully, brother-in-law Jean Belzon...