John Michael Rysbrack James Thornhill

The artistic output attributed to John Michael Rysbrack and James Thornhill, documented in major museum collections, spans a highly focused period between 1713 and 1714. Their known collaborative work consists exclusively of drawings, primarily focusing on preparatory studies and detailed designs for monumental sculpture and architecture.

Five such drawings are represented in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago. These works provide specific insight into early eighteenth-century design concepts for commemorative architecture. Key documented design proposals include the ambitious Design for an Unexecuted Funerary Monument for the First Duke of Marlborough and the detailed preparatory sketch, Design for a Funerary Monument with Fate, Putto, and Urn. The collection also holds related figurative studies, including Standing Female Figure with Right Arm Raised and Standing Female Figure with Right Hand Raised.

The limited but significant body of work confirms their role in the design of major public and private commissions during this period. Today, these detailed original drawings are often digitized as downloadable artwork, providing valuable reference material for the study of eighteenth-century drafting. The historical importance of these museum-quality designs ensures their continued preservation, with many available as high-quality prints for scholars and enthusiasts.