France, 19th century / 1857–59
Angel Blowing a Trumpet
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Angel Blowing a Trumpet as drawing (France, 19th century · 1857–59).
Related studies suggest that the subject is a male model; Degas added breasts almost as an afterthought.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this drawing as black chalk and credits Edgar Degas (French, 1834–1917).
The museum's collection notes: The figure in this drawing closely resembles a number of trumpeting angels in drawings that Edgar Degas made between 1856 and 1858 in preparation for an ambitious but ultimately unrealized history painting on the subject of Saint John the Evangelist accompanied by an angel. Rather than referring to any single passage in the Book of Revelation, Degas distilled an image from passages describing seven trumpeting angels who unleash destruction on earth with their blasts, the voice of Christ that addresses John in loud tones "like a trumpet," and individual angels who lead and instruct the Evangelist.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtAngel Blowing a TrumpetOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.