Allegory: Four Putti

1780/1790

Mather Brown

Associated Names
Mather Brown

Artist, American, 1761 - 1831

This is a drawing of cherubs engaged in playful activities. The image shows three cherubic figures in different lively poses. One cherub is airborne holding up a framed portrait with tools bursting out. Another cherub is sitting and using a saw on a plank resting on a rock. The third cherub is lying down with arms spread, appearing to be either asleep or resting. They all have curly hair and youthful features. The background is simple, emphasizing the cherubs, and the drawing style is characterized by clear, confident lines resembling renaissance penmanship.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and brown ink over graphite on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    John Davis Hatch Collection

  • Dimensions

    sheet: 13.8 × 18.5 cm (5 7/16 × 7 5/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1979.20.12

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

John Davis Hatch [1907-1996], by 1976; gift 1979 to the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Bibliography

1976

  • Hatch, John Davis. 100 American Drawings: Loan Exhibition from the Collection of John Davis Hatch. London: Heim Gallery, 1976, no. 7.

Inscriptions

in artist's hand, lower right in pen and brown ink: Love; in later hand, center right verso in graphite: Mather Brown / Purchased from V[etos?] / Boston; in later hand, lower left verso in graphite: 3 (inverted)

Watermarks

Patch

Wikidata ID

Q64608266

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