Study of Othello

Daniel Maclise was known for his paintings illustrating scenes from literature. This drawing is probably a study made in preparation for an 1859 oil painting depicting a pivotal moment in Shakespeare’s Othello. The artist used it to work out the expression of Othello, who raises his eyes heavenward upon discovering what he believes is his wife’s betrayal. Unlike the painting, which employs broad theatrical gestures to convey the scene’s drama, this drawing is a sensitive study of the model’s features. These are rendered in light strokes of chalk blended to create the soft shadow under his lower lip and the slight lift of his eyebrows (2022).