Horse and Rider 1624 - 1663

Francesco Allegrini made this small drawing, "Horse and Rider," using pen and brown ink, with touches of red chalk. He worked on laid paper, a handmade material with a distinctive texture from the wires of the papermaking mould. The ink lines vary in weight and intensity, creating a sense of depth and movement. You can almost feel the energy of the rearing horse and the rider's dramatic gesture. The red chalk adds subtle shading, enhancing the dynamism of the scene. Allegrini's choice of materials speaks to a tradition of skilled draftsmanship. Paper was a precious commodity, and ink and chalk were the tools of artistic training and exploration. The drawing's small size suggests it was a preparatory sketch or a personal study. The physicality of the drawing, the directness of the artist's hand, and the inherent qualities of the materials all contribute to its expressive power. It reminds us that even a simple sketch can be a window into the artist's process and the world of 17th-century artistic practice.