A putto pursuing a butterfly 1825

"A putto pursuing a butterfly" is a delicate pencil drawing by John Gibson, the famed English sculptor, created in 1825. The artwork depicts a cherubic figure, a putto, with wings outstretched, chasing a butterfly in flight. The simplicity of the lines and the delicate shading evoke a sense of lightness and whimsy, characteristic of Gibson's early style. The subject matter of the artwork, a putto pursuing a butterfly, suggests a theme of innocent playfulness and the fleeting nature of beauty. This drawing, while a study for a larger work, reveals Gibson's keen eye for detail and his mastery of the human form.