Study for a Lunette
1894
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
Artist
Charles Sprague Pearce
Charles Sprague Pearce (1851–1914) was an American artist, born in Boston.
See the richer artist page1894
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Study for a Lunette is a 1894 ink by Charles Sprague Pearce, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting shows five figures in a half-circle, standing on a grassy stage. One person on the left plays a flute, while the others hold hands and dance. The background is dark with a few stars, and the figures wear flowing robes in earthy colors like brown, white, and blue. Notice the rough, sketchy lines and flat colors—this isn’t polished. The artist used a quick, loose style to capture movement and mood. Check out gouache to see how this soft, water-based paint creates this matte look.
Charles Sprague Pearce (1851–1914) was an American artist, born in Boston.
See the richer artist page
![Studies for a Lunette [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/07c43c96c8ad1d74/thumb.webp)
