Artwork
Cheerfulness
Cheerfulness is a drawing by the Romanticist artist John James Chalon. It dates from 1818 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Cheerfulness is a drawing created by John James Chalon in 1818. It depicts a lively scene with figures in various poses, set against a natural backdrop.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing shows a group of people, some clothed in loose attire, others nude, alongside satyrs, engaged in dancing and playful activities. A central winged figure plays a trumpet, animating the scene.
Technique & Style
Executed in a sketchy style, the drawing employs light pencil strokes to convey movement and emotion, prioritizing expressive gesture over precise detail.
Context
The work's informal, draft-like quality suggests it may be a preliminary study or an exercise in capturing a particular atmosphere or mood.
Artist & collection
Artist
John James Chalon (27 March 1778 – 14 November 1854) was a Swiss painter active in England. He treated a wide range of subjects — landscapes, marine scenes, animal life, and figure-pieces.
Naiads and Tritons
Thetis dipping Achilles
Landscape with a Satyr Family and Classical Sculpture
Shepherds and Shepherdesses
The Archers
Putto Herding Goats through Garlands
Bacchanal with a Dancing Couple on the Right
The Judgment of Paris
Bacchanal
Six Nymphs and Two Cupids in a Landscape
Bacchus and Ariadne
Cheerfulness