Collection of Three Original Pen and Ink Drawings by Ralph Sweet, circa 1930 - Untitled [Rural Scenes and Portraits]

Sweet, Ralph

About this Item

Collection of three original pen and ink drawings by Ralph Sweet. Drawings are in black-and-white and show various rural scenes. Two of the drawings are mounted on gray matboard. Each drawing in signed on front in black ink by the artist as "Ralph Sweet." Parts of the pencil underdrawings are visible on each. No date, circa 1930. Drawings measures 14" x 11," landscape orientation. The matboards measure 16" x 13 1/2" and 16" x 13 3/4." Drawings are very clean and intact overall but have some spots of discoloration and age toning. Matboards are also clean and intact overall but have slight edge wear, spots of discoloration, minimal rubbing, and pieces of tape on back. Each drawing is Very Good. Very Good as a collection. A collection of three beautiful drawings by Ralph Sweet. Each is an excellent showcase of mark-making, attention to meticulous detail, and delineation of form and expression. While the drawings are untitled, each appears to show a scene in the Depression-era rural United States. One drawing shows a stoic and solemn scene in which two women appear to converse with one another in a small shanty. A black cat and a table with a pitcher and cup are in the foreground and background, respectively. Another drawing shows five women in a field who appear to be processing wool. Five chickens are in the foreground, a small house is to the left in the middleground, and trees and hills are in the background. The last drawing shows nine people in a barn-like building, most of whom are partaking in a folk dance. The background includes objects such as a decorative dish, rifle, and butter churn. Ralph Sweet (1892-1961) was an American medical illustrator. Sweet quickly made a name for himself as a talented artist and draftsman. His early acquaintance with the Mayo Clinic led to his lifelong career as a medical illustrator. Sweet considered medical illustration to be a fine art and studied under the noted German medical illustrator, Max Brodel, at John Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore. Sweet worked as a medical illustrator for Mayo Clinic for four years. From 1917 onward, he worked as medical illustrator for the UC Medical School in San Francisco and also became a Professor of Medical Illustration. In addition to these three drawings, Sweet made other artwork with non-medical subjects. In his free time, he painted landscapes and seascapes in watercolor. Sweet also made etchings in the years before 1932.

Seller Inventory # 024721

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Collection of Three Original Pen and Ink Drawings by Ralph Sweet, circa 1930 - Untitled [Rural Scenes and Portraits]
• Binding: No Binding
• Illustrator: Sweet, Ralph
• Condition: Collectible-Very Good
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • U.S. History
  • Medical
  • Art and Architecture