Description
John 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 figure with bare ankles and plunging décolletage is surrounded by a crowd of men who leer at her. 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, either beckoning or forewarning the viewer.
Provenance
John Brown (1752-1787); William Young Ottley, London, England; Sir Thomas Lawrence, London, England; (Christie's), purchased by Russell (June 17, 1830); Russell; Private Collection, Paris, France; (E.V. Thaw and Co., New York, NY), sold to The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (?-1969); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (January 22, 1969-)
Accession Number
1969.28.a
Medium
graphite and gray and black wash with point of brush
Dimensions
Image: 25.8 x 36.9 cm (10 3/16 x 14 1/2 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Credit Line
Dudley P. Allen Fund
