Who painted Composition with Figural Relief?

Composition with Figural Relief was painted by Jean-Jacques-François Le Barbier I in 1782.

Where can I see Composition with Figural Relief?

Composition with Figural Relief is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Composition with Figural Relief?

Composition with Figural Relief is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Composition with Figural Relief

Jean-Jacques-François Le Barbier I , 1782

Composition with Figural Relief is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jean-Jacques-François Le Barbier I. It dates from 1782 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Composition with Figural Relief, executed in 1782 by Jean‑Jacques‑François Le Barbier I, is an etching on laid paper presently in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington. The print presents a staged scene of a robed woman and a winged cherub amid foliage, rendered with fine line work that conveys a sense of movement and texture.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a woman in an elegant, flowing robe standing beside a cherubic figure. She pours wine from a horn into a bowl held by the cherub, who reaches for a bunch of grapes. The inclusion of wine, grapes, and abundant greenery evokes themes of festivity, abundance, and the pleasures of the harvest.

Technique & Style

Le Barbier employed traditional etching on laid paper, allowing for delicate lines and subtle tonal variations. The artist’s handling of hatching creates depth in the foliage and the folds of the woman's garment, while the cherub’s outstretched wings are rendered with crisp, airy strokes that suggest motion typical of late Baroque sensibilities.

History & Provenance

Created in the late eighteenth century, the print reflects Le Barbier’s activity as a French printmaker during the Rococo-to‑Baroque transition. It entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century, where it remains part of the museum’s European prints and drawings collection.