Surtees, Robert (1737 – 1802) – A Life Drawing, the Model Taking a Pose for Vulcan.

Robert Surtees of Mainsforth Hall in Co. Durham was in Italy c.1755-59 and this drawing, on Italian paper of the mid-eighteenth century, was likely made there. It is a highly confident and skilled life drawing which suggests he was attending an academy of art. The model must be taking a pose for Vulcan in his forge and is gripping a short piece of rope to mimic the handle of a hammer. An album of drawings by Surtees was sold at Christies in 1980. As this drawing was acquired tabbed to an album page it presumably came from it. On the verso is another confident but broad sketch of a seated man wearing a tricorn hat.