Title
Woman Standing among the Friars (recto) Sketches of Heads (verso, left); Two Women (verso, right). Creator: John Brown (British, 1752-1787).
Caption
Woman Standing among the Friars (recto) Sketches of Heads (verso, left); Two Women (verso, right), c. 1770-1775. A beguiling artist with a brief career, Brown is known for a small group of monochromatic drawings imbued with sinister overtones. At the age of 20, the Scottish artist traveled to Italy where he spent the next 12 years. This drawing exemplifies his Roman street scenes which often depict women dressed in spectacular, billowing costumes. Here, a coquette with bare ankles and plunging décolletage is surrounded by a crowd of vulgar types who leer, ogle, judge, and scorn. The reverse of the sketchbook sheet includes two independent drawings: a study of faces in fierce and intense expressions, and a pair of women wearing swirling gowns. One figure raises her hand in a mysterious gesture that casts a shadow on her throat resembling a claw. Whether the viewer is being beckoned or forewarned remains a mystery.
Credit line
Photo12/Heritage Images/Heritage Art
Reference
HRM19G20_041
Model release
NA
Property release
NA
License type
Rights managed
Available size
80,2Mb (8,3Mb) / 20,9in x 14,9in / 6256 x 4481 (300dpi)