Sketch of an Angel

Francis Augustus Lathrop's pen sketch depicts an angel in profile, rendered with loose, expressive linework characteristic of late-nineteenth-century illustration practice. The figure's flowing robes and upturned face suggest spiritual contemplation or ascension. Lathrop, an American designer and illustrator active in the Arts and Crafts movement, worked across multiple media including stained glass, metalwork, and printmaking. This drawing reflects the period's interest in religious and allegorical subjects, executed with the spontaneous quality typical of preparatory studies. The sketch demonstrates the rapid gestural technique that would influence modern illustration and sequential art, where economy of line conveys form and movement.