Five Hovering Angels by Maarten van Heemskerck

Five Hovering Angels 1532 - 1536

toned paper

light pencil work

ink painting

pencil sketch

etching

ink drawing experimentation

coffee painting

underpainting

watercolour illustration

watercolor

"Five Hovering Angels" is a 16th-century drawing by Maarten van Heemskerck, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The drawing depicts five cherubic figures in various poses, demonstrating the artist's mastery of anatomy and movement. The intricate details of the wings and the lifelike expressions of the angels are notable. This drawing is likely a preparatory study for a larger painting or fresco, showcasing the artist's meticulous attention to detail and his meticulous approach to composition.

Comments

rijksmuseum over 1 year ago

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The Strong Men series clearly reveals Heemskerck’s fascination with the very latest creations of his Italian colleagues. He must have frequently copied such contemporary examples. This is one of his few surviving drawings after such a work. He took the playful angels from a fresco in the Vatican made by Raphael’s most important pupil Giulio Romano in the 1520s.