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Cherub revealing a portrait to a young woman

Unknown

1550

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Renaissance Portrait

Dominant colour

Cherub revealing a portrait to a young woman is a 1550 by Unknown, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1550
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This drawing shows a faint, ghostly scene of two figures—one small, one larger—surrounded by swirling lines. The background is mostly blank, with just a hint of shapes and textures. The edges are framed by a thin red border, and the whole thing looks worn, like it’s been handled a lot. The lines are made by tiny dots packed closely together, almost like a sketch that’s been rubbed or faded over time. It’s hard to tell exactly what’s happening, but the smaller figure seems to be pointing or showing something to the other. If you like this style, look up stippling.

The story of this work

Overview

A red chalk drawing from around 1550 depicts a cherub pulling aside a curtain to reveal a face to a seated young woman. The scene is rendered in red chalk on paper.

Read the full account in the museum source.