- 31
Baldassare Franceschini, called Il Volterrano
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Baldassare Franceschini, called Il Volterrano
- Recto: Studies of a hand holding a staff, two studies of the head of a young man and a woman in profileVerso: Studies of a young boy, with subsidiary studies of two hands
- Black chalk heightened with white chalk on grey paper (recto and verso)
Catalogue Note
This double sided sheet of studies, is typical of Volterrano's working method. The artist made countless series of drawings in preparation for his works; these range from compositional sketches, rapidly laid down, to studies of single figures, to details scattered on the sheets, as in the present drawing, to final modelli.
We have been unable to relate any of these different studies to any of Volterrano's known works. From the time of the frescoes in the courtyard of the Villa Petraia, a work commissioned in 1636 by Don Lorenzo de' Medici, the artist's graphic style remained rather consistent, and it is therefore not easy to date drawings by him that are not connected with any specific project.
We have been unable to relate any of these different studies to any of Volterrano's known works. From the time of the frescoes in the courtyard of the Villa Petraia, a work commissioned in 1636 by Don Lorenzo de' Medici, the artist's graphic style remained rather consistent, and it is therefore not easy to date drawings by him that are not connected with any specific project.