Like writers, artists use rough drafts to work out their ideas for a painting or sculpture, and, like early incarnations of written works, these preparatory sketches and drawings are often treasured for the insights they give into the creative process.

The next exhibit at the Yale University Art Gallery, "From John Trumbull to Edward Hopper: The Making of American Masterpieces," will feature artists' studies on paper, on canvas and in bronze, along with the completed works that they presaged.

These works, from the gallery's American collections, will be displayed on the museum's first floor Oct. 29-Jan. 2, while the American galleries undergo a complete renovation.

In 1832, the patriot-artist John Trumbull gave more than 100 of his paintings to Yale, creating the first college art museum in the western hemisphere. Since then, the Yale Art Gallery's department of prints, drawings and photographs has acquired studies for many of Trumbull's works, including one of the best-known American images, "The Declaration of Independence, 4, July, 1776." This and three other Trumbull history paintings will be on display in the new exhibit, along with studies on paper and an oil sketch.

Of the many paintings by Thomas Eakins (1844-1916) in Yale's collection, three will be shown with related preparatory works. Since 1932, Yale has owned the oil, "John Biglin in a Single Scull," thought to be a study for a watercolor of the same subject. In 1998, Paul Mellon gave the watercolor to the Yale Art Gallery and both works will be in the new exhibit. Eakins's portrait, "Katherine (Girl with a Cat)" will be shown next to his graphite study of the young woman, and his oil sketch "William Rush Carving his Allegory of the Schuylkill River" will be accompanied by two small bronze figure studies he sculpted.

In 1937 the Yale Art Gallery received an extensive bequest of works by Edwin Austin Abbey (1852-1911) from the artist's widow. These included numerous studies which will be exhibited, along with two finished paintings based on plays by Shakespeare: "Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and the Lady Anne" and "The Play Scene in Hamlet."

The exhibit will also include three studies for "Sunlight in a Cafeteria" by Edward Hopper (1882-1967) along with the final painted composition; and "Lady Jean," a portrait of a young girl, by George Bellows (1882-1925), which will be shown with a preparatory drawing given to Yale just this year.

The installation also features pieces from the decorative arts collection, a silver and lapis lazuli bowl designed by Charlotte Bone, together with her drawing of the design, and Tom Loeser's "Folding Chair" with his preparatory drawing.

The redesign and rehanging of the American collections is the first major change to the Garvan Galleries of American Arts and the American Experience since their opening in 1973.

The Yale University Art Gallery, located at 1111 Chapel St., is open to the public without charge Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, 1-6 p.m. It is closed Mondays and major holidays. A wheelchair-accessible entrance is at 201 York St., with a reserved parking space nearby. For taped general and program information, call (203) 432-0600 or check the gallery's website at www.yale.edu/artgallery.

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