THEODORE GERICAULT
Controversial, fiery, short-lived French Romantic
painter and lithographer Largely self-taught; horses
were a favorite subject together with politics and
history. He is best known for his gigantic painting,
The Raft of the Medusa, displayed in the Louvre, Paris.
Repeated study This drawing demonstrates the importance
of feeling confident enough to isolate parts of a subject
repeat different views, and keep trying again. Remaining
focused upon seeing will lead to a greater understanding of
the subject Much is learned from repeated study, and it can
be applied to any subject (see pp.118-119).Undertraces Beneath these graphite studies we see traces
of drawings Gericault erased. At the center of the page is
the outline of a horse, standing sideways, facing right. Before
paper became so cheap, artists reused sheets and crammed
them full of studies. Here, undertraces of previous drawings
unify and vitalize the composition.Tones On the top row we see clearly how Gericault laid
broad areas of tone using fast, parallel, diagonal strokes
of his pencil. Tones that do not follow surface contour is
very difficult to do well, since it can lead to a flattened form.
Beginners are advised to follow the natural contours of form
as shown on pp. 124-25 and p. 144.Sketches of a Wild Striped Cat
1817-18
121 / 2 x 15^1 / 2 in (319 x 398 mm)
THEODORE GERICAULT