Preparatory drawing for the An Allegory of Painting project, a composition based on Angelica Kauffman's Invention, 2018

Sarah Pickstone (b. 1965)

RA Collection: Art

This watercolour is a compositional study based on Angelica Kauffman's painting Invention. It was produced by Sarah Pickstone as part of her project An Allegory of Painting which took place at the Royal Academy in 2018-19 as part of the programme of events to celebrate the institution's 250th anniversary.

Pickstone produced two paintings for the project - Belvedere and The Rainbow - which were both exhibited at the Academy. The Rainbow is based on Kauffman's Colour but Kauffman also drew from the other three works in Kauffman's Elements of Painting set including Invention.



In Kauffman's Elements of Painting, women are depicted actively painting and drawing, in contrast with traditional, passive representations. By focusing on their active gaze and gesture, Pickstone 're-sees' the history of the Royal Academy and of women artists in general.