Who painted Mother and Child Flanked by Two Standing Figures?

Mother and Child Flanked by Two Standing Figures was painted by Jacques-Louis David in 1778.

Where can I see Mother and Child Flanked by Two Standing Figures?

Mother and Child Flanked by Two Standing Figures is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Mother and Child Flanked by Two Standing Figures?

Mother and Child Flanked by Two Standing Figures is associated with Neoclassicism.

Artwork

Mother and Child Flanked by Two Standing Figures

Jacques-Louis David , 1778

Mother and Child Flanked by Two Standing Figures is a chalk drawing by the Neoclassicist artist Jacques-Louis David. It dates from 1778 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

This drawing, created in 1778 by Jacques-Louis David, is a representation of a maternal scene. Executed in black chalk on laid paper, it showcases the artist's skill in figure drawing.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a seated woman with a child on her lap, flanked by two standing female figures, all clad in flowing, draped attire. The scene conveys a sense of maternal tenderness and familial bonding.

Technique & Style

David's use of simple, expressive lines and subtle shading brings the figures to life. The black chalk medium allows for a range of tonal values, adding depth to the composition.

Context

This drawing is associated with the emerging Romanticism movement, which emphasized emotion and the human experience. It reflects the period's interest in exploring themes of family and sentiment.

Artist & collection

Artist

Jacques-Louis David

Jacques-Louis David was born in Paris on 30 August 1748 into a bourgeois family; his father died in a duel when the boy was nine, and a maternal uncle guided his education.