Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case IONIDES, Shelf 5

Studies of cherubs for ceiling decoration

Drawing
ca. 1640-1660 (drawn)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This sheet of lively studies was previously attributed to Poussin's friend the Flemish sculptor François Duquesnoy, who worked in Rome and carved a series of reliefs of children. It appears to have been made in preparation for the execution of a painted ceiling which included flying cherubs. The unidentified artist evidently drew the studies from the life, inventing various different airborne poses for his infant model.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleStudies of cherubs for ceiling decoration
Materials and techniques
Red chalk
Brief description
Anonymous, mid-17th century Italian red chalk drawing, previously attributed to François Duquesnoy: studies of cherubs for ceiling decoration
Physical description
Sheet of red chalk studies of a naked infant in various airborne poses.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.2cm
  • Width: 19.6cm
Credit line
Bequeathed by Constantine Alexander Ionides
Object history
Bequeathed by C.A. Ionides, 1900
Subjects depicted
Summary
This sheet of lively studies was previously attributed to Poussin's friend the Flemish sculptor François Duquesnoy, who worked in Rome and carved a series of reliefs of children. It appears to have been made in preparation for the execution of a painted ceiling which included flying cherubs. The unidentified artist evidently drew the studies from the life, inventing various different airborne poses for his infant model.
Bibliographic reference
Ward-Jackson, Peter, Italian Drawings. Volume II. 17th-18th century, London, 1979, pp. 109-110 The following is the full text of the entry: Studies (13 on I sheet) of flying putti Red chalk 11 ½ x 7 5/8 (293 x 193) CAI.l050 PROVENANCE Ionides Bequest 1901 (Lugt 488) LITERATURE <i>Ionides Catalogue</i>, p. 11 (as by Duquesnoy)
Collection
Accession number
CAI.1050

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Record createdMarch 27, 2008
Record URL
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