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Photography by Dwight Primiano

Lock and Load

Hands present a unique challenge for artists. Next to faces, they are the most expressive and intricate body part. Hands have many small features, including knuckles, creases, and delicate fingers. Adding to the complexity, every person sees or feels hands every day. We can tell instantly whether an artist has captured them accurately. In your eyes, how well do these artists succeed? How do the artists use different poses to convey expression and meaning?

ArtistJulian Scott(1846-1901)
Date1864
MediumGraphite on paper
Dimensions30 x 24 1/8 x 1 3/8 in. (76.2 x 61.3 x 3.5 cm)
Signedc.r.: JScott / March 1864
Credit LineCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2007.138
ClassificationDrawing
ProvenanceEstate of the Artist; (Kramer Gallery, St. Paul, MN); (Cowans Auctioneers, Cincinnati, OH); John Driscoll, New York, NY; to (Babcock Galleries, New York, NY); purchased by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR, 2007
On ViewYes
Lock and Load30 × 24.1 in.Tennis Ball2.7 in. diameter

This artwork's face covers about 99× the area of a tennis ball.Drawn to the same scale.

Lock and Load by Julian Scott | Crystal Bridges