Study of Jealousy 1545

Editor: This is Agnolo Bronzino's "Study of Jealousy," made around 1545, a pencil drawing with what looks like watercolor accents. I find it quite evocative, especially the hands almost obscuring the figure’s face. What stands out to you? Curator: The hands, definitely. They’re not just hands; they’re symbolic shields. They tell of turmoil. Think of the "Evil Eye" gesture, how it historically deflects negativity. Could this drawing be gesturing similarly, warding off or succumbing to jealousy's sting? Bronzino often layers his portraits with such complex meanings. Editor: So, the gesture is more than just covering the face; it's an active, protective one? Curator: Exactly. It draws on a well of collective anxieties about envy and malevolence. And the sketch medium itself. The rapid strokes. the raw quality evokes the heat of passion. Does it capture this destructive emotion differently for you, as a preliminary sketch? Editor: Absolutely. I see the sketch-like quality lends an immediacy to the emotion, almost like a snapshot of a fleeting moment. I’m starting to view it less as just a study and more like an intimate portrayal of internal conflict. Curator: Consider also that jealousy, traditionally linked to the color yellow, may have influenced the choice of yellow watercolor. Editor: Oh wow! I had not noticed the watercolor because of its light touch. Thinking about the meaning behind its use really elevates my reading of this work! Thank you for this perspective. Curator: And thank you. Reflecting on the drawing with fresh eyes is what keeps these symbols alive.