Dorothy Barnard, Study for "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose" (recto): Polly Barnard, Study for "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose" (verso). Artist: John Singer Sargent (American, Florence 1856-1925 London). Dimensions: 13 1/4 × 9 1/2 in. (33.7 × 24.1 cm). Date: ca. 1885-86.
On this double-sided sheet, Sargent confidently captures the near final poses of young models Dorothy and Polly Barnard as they appear in his monumental exhibition painting Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose (1885-86, Tate, United Kingdom). In these rapid sketches, Sargent varies the strength and darkness of his pencil, paying particular attention to the position of the girls' arms as they light their lanterns.