Artwork
Four Cherubs at Target Practice
Four Cherubs at Target Practice is a chalk print by the Baroque artist Gilles Demarteau the Elder. It dates from 1749 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
This drawing was made using a method called the "chalk manner," which creates soft, grainy lines that look like chalk.
Four cherubs stand in a row, each aiming a small bow and arrow at a distant target. They wear simple cloth around their waists and stand on a grassy patch under a cloudy sky. One cherub squints, another pulls the string back, and two are just watching.
This drawing was made using a method called the "chalk manner," which creates soft, grainy lines that look like chalk. It was often used to copy engravings so they could be printed and shared. The artist made this the year he died, 1776, likely as a study or for personal use.
Look up the technique: chiaroscuro, impasto, sfumato.
Overview
Four Cherubs at Target Practice is a print created by Gilles Demarteau the Elder.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts four cherubs standing in a row, aiming bows and arrows at a target under a cloudy sky. Each cherub is engaged in a different stage of shooting, conveying a sense of activity and interaction.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in 'chalk manner,' a technique that mimics the soft, textured appearance of chalk drawings, allowing for detailed and nuanced renderings.
History & Provenance
Created in 1776, the year of the artist's death, this print may have served as a personal study or exercise.
Artist & collection
