Studies of the Madonna and Child (recto) by Giulio Cesare Procaccini

Studies of the Madonna and Child (recto) 16th-17th century

drawing, black-chalk

drawing

toned paper

water colours

ink painting

etching

possibly oil pastel

underpainting

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

italy

mixed medium

black-chalk

watercolor

This preliminary sketch by Giulio Cesare Procaccini from the 16th-17th century is a study for a larger painting of the Madonna and Child. The artist, who was active in Milan, is known for his Mannerist style. The loose, gestural lines of the drawing suggest movement and energy, and the composition is dynamic and unbalanced, typical of Mannerist art. The sketch is a testament to the creative process of this Renaissance artist as he worked out the composition and details for a more finished piece. Procaccini, famous for his paintings, has left behind a rich legacy of drawings that give insight into his artistic method. This sketch demonstrates his skill in using line to capture form and movement, and offers a glimpse into the development of one of his iconic subjects.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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Hailing from a long line of painters, Giulio Cesare Procaccini was one of the most successful artists working in Milan in the early 17th century and a key figure in developing a new artistic language in religious art at this moment, as artists gradually moved away from the mannerist language that had dominated painting in the second-half of the 16th century. Procaccini’s ability to humanize religious subjects was a key aspect of his style which ushered in this new era, and this is nicely demonstrated in this informal group of figures studies—"primi pensieri" or first thoughts—which were likely executed by the artist in a matter of minutes as he worked out a number of ideas right on the sketch page.