Who painted Woman and Putto with a Memorial Portrait?

Woman and Putto with a Memorial Portrait was painted by Jacques-Louis David in 1778.

Where can I see Woman and Putto with a Memorial Portrait?

Woman and Putto with a Memorial Portrait is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Woman and Putto with a Memorial Portrait?

Woman and Putto with a Memorial Portrait is associated with Neoclassicism.

Artwork

Woman and Putto with a Memorial Portrait

Jacques-Louis David , 1778

Woman and Putto with a Memorial Portrait 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

Woman and Putto with a Memorial Portrait is a drawing created by Jacques-Louis David in 1778 using black chalk and pen and ink on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a seated woman in a flowing robe with her right arm outstretched, accompanied by a putto holding a bow and arrow, with a faint memorial portrait visible in the background.

Technique & Style

The sketch features bold lines and expressive shading, utilizing chiaroscuro to create depth and volume, emphasizing the central figures.

Context

This work exemplifies characteristics of Romanticism, emphasizing emotion and movement, consistent with David's style during this period.

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.