Five Music-Making Figures 1610 - 1662

Giovanni Francesco Romanelli made this ink and wash drawing of music-making figures in the 17th century. The process is direct: he employed brown ink, quickly applied with a quill to capture the dynamism of the figures, while a light blue wash suggests depth. The immediacy of the sketch is deceptive. Romanelli had rigorous academic training, and the light, rapid lines are evidence of his masterful technique. Though it is on paper, the drawing emulates the look of a low relief sculpture, like a frieze on a building. We might imagine that Romanelli was working out a design for a much larger, more elaborate work of art – perhaps a stucco panel. The drawing embodies sprezzatura, a nonchalant approach that was prized during the Baroque period. But that casualness belies the labor that went into acquiring such skill. This work prompts us to think about the relationship between the idea, the hand, and the traditions that give art its lasting power.