Sketch of Winged Figure, Possibly Fortuna

This pen sketch by Francis Augustus Lathrop explores classical allegorical imagery through rapid, gestural line work. The composition centers on a winged female figure surrounded by attendant forms, rendered in the artist's characteristic fluid draftsmanship. Lathrop's approach—layering transparent contours and anatomical studies—reflects late nineteenth-century academic practice. The loose handling and multiple figure studies suggest preparatory work for a larger decorative or illustrative project. Lathrop's career bridged fine art and commercial design, and his technical mastery of the figure remained foundational to American illustration during the era when newspaper strips and comic supplements were beginning to establish visual narrative conventions.