Four Cherubs at Target Practice

Gilles Demarteau, the Elder after François Boucher

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of four cherubs playing in the clouds. The scene captures four cherubic figures, each with plump bodies and wings, interacting playfully among themselves. One cherub at the center holds a bow, another is leaning towards this central figure, and the other two cherubs are engaged, one holding an arrow and the other gazing towards the central activity. The soft, curved lines and use of chiaroscuro add to the ethereal and playful atmosphere. The arrangement suggests movement, conveyed through the swirling cloud-like forms that envelop the cherubs.