Artwork preview

Study for "The Siege of Gibraltar": The Wrecked Longboat

John Singleton Copley

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Black and white sketch of a chaotic scene depicting a group of people struggling in turbulent water. A capsized longboat on the right side with several figures; some clinging to debris, others attempting to stand or swim. One figure lies face down in the water on the left. Choppy waves throughout, with a line of darker shading suggesting a distant shoreline or barrier. The background has a sketched appearance with minimal detail. The style is expressive with bold lines and shading.

Artwork Details

Date
1785–86
Medium
Pen and brown ink and black chalk on off-white laid paper
Culture
American
Dimensions
600 × 490 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette