Studies for a Decorative Object (Banner or Pendentive?) Representing Allegorical Figures, One of Which Appears to Be Fortitude 1600 - 1700

Curator: What catches my eye about this sketch is the bold use of line, all sweeping gestures trying to capture figures brimming with purpose. Editor: Indeed, and there’s an undeniable energy despite it being a preparatory drawing. I find myself drawn to the texture of the paper, though. You can almost feel the absorbency of it, how the ink bled just so slightly, controlled by the artist. Curator: This is "Studies for a Decorative Object (Banner or Pendentive?) Representing Allegorical Figures, One of Which Appears to Be Fortitude". It's believed to be created sometime between 1600 and 1700 by an anonymous artist. We're fortunate to have it here at the Met. The artist employed ink on paper. Editor: "Fortitude" would certainly resonate within its historical context. Think of the physical and social exertion required to obtain and then refine these materials. The cost of the ink, the sourcing of the paper – even the light needed to create this work, all were significant material investments! Curator: Absolutely! It invites thoughts on how Fortitude, represented here, perhaps, with a dagger, stood as a symbol of inner strength. And consider how it was presented through decorative objects— banners, pendentive, the potential grandeur and persuasive impact these emblems held. Editor: That link to material circumstance shapes its meanings as well, of course. Consider these bold strokes. Were they born from ease or haste? Was this a commissioned piece demanding a certain pace and flourish, influencing even the way the ink interacted with the page? Curator: Fascinating thought. Also, notice how, even in these studies, the artist captures very distinctive facial expressions and musculature. We gain some sense of their personality and emotional state as represented within these virtues. There is one figure, specifically that of a warrior holding a possible lance, that appears especially focused, embodying not just fortitude, but perhaps strategic precision as well. Editor: Precisely. The drawing reveals so much about the economy and resources of its era. It gives new meaning to allegorical strength as a form of artistic labor. Curator: Absolutely! Considering this drawing provides new lenses for cultural memory—art and the meanings it holds through potent symbolism. Editor: Looking closer at this art deepens our appreciation of how art’s value lies both in what it symbolizes and the rich history of its materials.