Study of a standing woman in heavy drapery

The drawing is one of two studies, both in red chalk, which Poynter made on 4 December 1876. This one emphasises the figure herself, the other is more concerned with her relationship to the door behind her. As Alison Inglis has kindly pointed out, the studies may be connected with Poynter's painting of Helen (Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney), exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1881. This is a half-length figure, but the pose and background are comparable to those in the drawings.