Sketches of Right Arm of Mr. Kennedy and Left Hand of Mr. Silliman

Daniel Huntington's anatomical studies demonstrate the formal training methods of nineteenth-century American academic art. These ink sketches on paper document careful observation of human limbs and hands—foundational studies for figure painting. The notations in the margins reference the subjects by name, suggesting these were drawn from live models. Such anatomical practice sheets were essential to the atelier tradition, where artists built technical mastery through systematic study of the human form. Huntington, a founding member of the National Academy of Design, exemplified this classical approach to artistic education and professional practice.