In Tate Britain
Prints and Drawings Room
View by appointment- Artist
- Thomas Carwitham active 1713–1733
- Medium
- Ink and watercolour on paper
- Dimensions
- Support: 370 x 238 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Purchased as part of the Oppé Collection with assistance from the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund 1996
- Reference
- T08118
Display caption
Carwitham is known primarily for sketches illustrating scenes from Classical mythology, mainly from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses'. At one point he is thought to have been a pupil of the decorative painter Sir James Thornhill (see no.3), later specialising in painting illusionistic architecture and sculpture. This unusual sketch is unlikely to be for a decorative scheme that was ever executed. It was probably done as an independent artistic exercise to test his skills in depicting falling figures seen from below. The loose, sketchy technique is very similar to Thornhill's, who was much criticised by his contemporaries for his lack of proficiency in drawing the human figure.
Gallery label, September 2004
Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.
You might like
-
Sir James Thornhill Three Studies for ‘Thetis in the Forge of Vulcan Watching the Making of Achilles’ Armour’
c.1710 -
Sir James Thornhill Design for a Ceiling with Curved Ends. Verso: Numerous Designs for the Central Motif
date not known -
Joseph Highmore Seated Putto. Verso: Fragment of a Figure Holding a Staff
date not known -
Thomas Carwitham Illustration to Ovid: The Death of Arachne
date not known -
Thomas Carwitham Illustration to Homer: The Gods Despatch Mercury
date not known -
Joseph Highmore Study for Mercury
date not known -
Joseph Highmore Study of the Borghese Gladiator from Behind
date not known -
Joseph Highmore Academy Study of a Male Nude
date not known -
Joseph Highmore Academy Study of a Male Nude
date not known -
Joseph Highmore Putto with a Shepherd’s Crook
date not known -
Joseph Highmore Four Studies of the Belvedere Torso
date not known -
Sir James Thornhill Architectural Decoration, Design for an Altarpiece: Scene under a Barrel Vault Supported by Four Pairs of Detached Columns
date not known -
Sir James Thornhill Architectural Decoration, Design for an Altarpiece: Scene under a Wide Vault Supported by Two Pairs of Columns
date not known -
Joseph Highmore Three Studies of a Torso and One of a Leg. Verso: Numerous Anatomical Studies of Arms, Legs, a Torso and a Putto
date not known -
Joseph Highmore A Sheet of Two Studies for a Male Full-Length and ‘The Good Samaritan’
date not known