Portraits of Pier Francesco Mola and Niccolò Simonelli Possibly 1649

Curator: Take a look at "Portraits of Pier Francesco Mola and Niccolò Simonelli," a drawing attributed to Mola himself, possibly dating back to 1649. It resides now at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Instantly, I'm struck by the…informality? The sketchiness almost. Two gentlemen, backs turned, rendered in these rusty red strokes against this aged paper. They appear lost in thought, or perhaps, just plain lost! Curator: Mola’s expertise shines through in the assured line work achieved here with pen on paper, typical for a study from this period. Observe how Mola has used hatching and cross-hatching to define form and texture, focusing on their garments. The rendering, for instance, hints at social status, consider the drape and the cut. It's more than just mere recording; it's constructing a social narrative through representation. Editor: Yes! Absolutely. It’s interesting to ponder on who had the time and material wealth necessary to commission, and create such pieces. Looking closer I notice a whimsical sense of scale – are those lizards sketched in around their feet, or simply stray marks, mimicking them in their tiny meanderings? Perhaps Mola, too, felt a kinship, another fellow creature observing the human drama unfold. Curator: Indeed! Think about the role of drawing at that time; as more than just a preparatory step, but an art form unto itself. Mola was working within the Baroque era, known for its dramatic flair, but also for its engagement with reality and, increasingly, new markets for art. Pen and ink were a portable and accessible medium, facilitating the quick exchange of ideas among artists. Editor: Makes one wonder, doesn't it? Was it meant for public display? A private keepsake among friends? It gives such intimate snapshots, even from this distance of centuries, makes me question whether some impulses truly are timeless. Curator: Examining it this way illuminates Mola’s methods, placing it in its cultural moment, and highlighting the artistic decisions—materials, subject, technique—behind its creation. Editor: For me, this is what really sparks imagination. Seeing artists as themselves, men and women who lived with complexities and made friends and drawings – this simple, yet incredibly affecting image has let us catch a little bit of that spark across all that time.