Christopher Wilmarth (1943–1987), an American artist best known for his expressive sculptures constructed from plate glass and steel, was also an innovative draftsman. This compelling book is the first to focus on Wilmarth’s use of drawing throughout his career and offers fascinating insights into his artistic practice and personal vision.

Edward Saywell considers three aspects of Wilmarth’s drawings: his student and early works; the remarkable crossover that he made between two- and three-dimensional works in a series of drawings constructed from etched glass and steel cables done in the early 1970s; and the independent drawings he made directly after or during the construction of his sculptures as a means to think through completed work and to look forward to new creative ideas. In order to shed new light on Wilmarth’s working process, Saywell draws on previously unstudied materials, such as sketchbooks, preparatory maquettes, and letters selected from the Christopher Wilmarth Archive recently presented to the Fogg Museum by Susan Wilmarth-Rabineau.

Published in conjunction with an exhibition at the Harvard Art Museums, April 5–June 29, 2003.

Edward Saywell is the former Charles C. Cunningham, Sr., Curatorial Associate, Department of Drawings, Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum.