XVIII century Sergey Sergeyevich Solomko (1867-1928)

The drawing presents a woman in elaborate attire seated on what appears to be a stone ledge or embankment, with a sleeping cherub resting nearby. The composition is framed within an oval border, lending it a sense of contained narrative and formal elegance characteristic of eighteenth-century artistic conventions.
Here we see the woman dressed in a gown that combines elements of both formality and lightness. A fitted bodice, accented with vertical lines suggesting structure, transitions into a voluminous skirt rendered in layers of white fabric. The sleeves are puffed at the shoulders and delicately adorned with pale blue detailing, contributing to an overall impression of refined femininity. Her hair is styled in elaborate curls, framing a face marked by a subtle melancholy expression. A touch of rouge highlights her cheeks, suggesting a deliberate attempt at beauty enhancement common during this period.
The cherub, positioned slightly lower than the woman and angled towards the viewer, appears peaceful and vulnerable. Its head rests on its arm, and its features are softened in sleep. The placement of the cherub suggests a connection to themes of innocence, divine grace, or perhaps even mortality – recurring motifs in eighteenth-century art.
The color palette is restrained, dominated by whites, blues, and muted pinks. This contributes to an atmosphere of gentle sentimentality and idealized beauty. The artist’s use of shading creates depth and volume, particularly noticeable in the folds of the womans dress and the contours of her face.
Subtexts within this drawing might explore themes of feminine virtue, the fleeting nature of youth and beauty, or a contemplation on the relationship between the earthly and the divine. The cherub’s presence could symbolize hope, protection, or a connection to a higher power, while the womans gaze suggests introspection and perhaps a quiet sadness. The overall effect is one of idealized grace tinged with an underlying sense of melancholy, typical of artistic expressions from the designated period.