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Peter and His Children Visited by Three Flying Figures

Thomas Stothard

1783

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism 18th Century Allegory

Dominant colour

Peter and His Children Visited by Three Flying Figures is a 1783 graphite by Thomas Stothard, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Thomas Stothard
When & what style?: 1783 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a man and two small children standing in a doorway, all looking up. Above them, three winged figures float in the sky, pointing or reaching down. The man’s face is serious, while the kids look curious. Outside, a rocky landscape stretches out with a few trees and a sailboat in the distance. The artist used thin lines and shading to create depth, giving the scene a soft, dreamy feel. The flying figures add a strange, almost magical touch to the everyday moment. Next, check out the technique: cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.