Surtees (Attributed to), Robert (1737 – 802) – Figure Studies.

This drawing came from an album of works by Surtees sold at Christie's in 1980. On a sheet of mid-eighteenth century Italian paper, it was likely made while he was in Italy c.1755-59. The draughtsmanship is extraordinarily good. If it is indeed by Surtees as we suspect, rather than being a sheet he had collected on his travels, it demonstrates what a lost talent he is and deserving of more attention. The figure was presumably copied from a painting. More scholarly eyes than ours will no doubt identify it!