The Three Sisters

Benjamin West's The Three Sisters shows three elegant women in a lush garden. Holding woven baskets, the women seem to be shelling peas, yet resemble the mythological Three Graces. West's flowing lines suggest that the women commune harmoniously with each other and with nature. The loose manner in which he handled his pen here contrasts sharply with the more highly finished quality of his paintings (see Galleries 211 and 212). The fact that the drawing does not relate to any known works by the artist is somewhat surprising; West's generation typically drew to establish designs for paintings. The figure with a sweet expression at the right recalls a work attributed to Leonardo di Vinci, whom West revered.