Three studies of a seated woman

F. Ernest Jackson ARA (1872 - 1945)

RA Collection: Art

A sheet with three drawings of a seated woman. At the top is a nude study of the figure drawn in pencil and showing the model sitting on a cushion and leaning against a sofa or chair. Below, drawn in red chalk, are two sketches of the same model wearing a loosely fitted dress and sitting on a chair.

Through his activities as a teacher, F. Ernest Jackson produced many life drawings as well as studies of figures for lithographed or painted compositions. He often used the page as he has done in this case, making several studies of the same model on one sheet.

In F. Ernest Jackson and his School (2000), J. G. P. Delaney points out that although Jackson was never a very famous artist he was well known in the art world, particularly as a teacher. His drawings were singled out for particular praise by such artists as Augustus John, who described Jackson as 'a very fine draughtsman - indeed one of the best not only of his period, but of the whole of British art'. Similarly, Sir Gerald Kelly noted that after twenty years of teaching at the Royal Academy Schools, many of Jackson's pupils considered their teacher to be 'one of the greatest draughtsmen England ever had, and how right they were'.

Three studies of a seated woman has been conserved through a generous donation from the artist's granddaughter, Margaret Bear, 2012.