Charles Sprague Pearce (American, 1851–1914). <em>Study for "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist,"</em> ca. 1881. Crayon on paper, sheet: 6 1/8 × 7 in. (15.6 × 17.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Sidney M. Katz, 85.243.2 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 85.243.2_PS4.jpg)

Charles Sprague Pearce (American, 1851–1914). Study for "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist," ca. 1881. Crayon on paper, sheet: 6 1/8 × 7 in. (15.6 × 17.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Sidney M. Katz, 85.243.2 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 85.243.2_PS4.jpg)

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Study for "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist"

Charles Sprague Pearce

American Art

On View:

The expatriate artist Charles Sprague Pearce masterfully exploited the textured paper surface and powdery charcoal medium to create this beautifully modeled head study for a now-lost monumental painting (see illustration). Details such as the figure’s protruding collarbone, bags under the eye, and stoic gaze convey the character of Saint John the Baptist as a man whose faith remains unshakable in the face of physical suffering and imminent death.

ARTIST Charles Sprague Pearce, American, 1851–1914

MEDIUM Crayon on paper

DATES ca. 1881

DIMENSIONS sheet: 6 1/8 × 7 in. (15.6 × 17.8 cm) frame: 15 3/8 × 20 3/8 × 1 3/4 in. (39.1 × 51.8 × 4.4 cm) (show scale)

SIGNATURE Signed in charcoal, lower left: "CSP" [in monogram]

INSCRIPTIONS Inscribed on recto lower left in charcoal: "Fragment"; on verso in center in graphite: "Decollation du St Jean / Baptiste / Charles Sprague Pearce"

COLLECTIONS American Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 85.243.2

CREDIT LINE Gift of Sidney M. Katz

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Black crayon (probably Conté) on cream, medium-weight, moderately textured laid paper

EXHIBITIONS

Fine Lines: American Drawings from the Brooklyn Museum

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view

CAPTION Charles Sprague Pearce (American, 1851–1914). Study for "The Beheading of St. John the Baptist," ca. 1881. Crayon on paper, sheet: 6 1/8 × 7 in. (15.6 × 17.8 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Sidney M. Katz, 85.243.2 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 85.243.2_PS4.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 85.243.2_PS4.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2011

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