Studies of a Group of Seated Figures and of a Flying Figure 1612 - 1675

Micco Spadaro made this pen and brown ink drawing, Studies of a Group of Seated Figures and of a Flying Figure, in Naples, Italy, in the mid-seventeenth century. It appears to be preparatory sketches for a larger work, perhaps a history painting or an altarpiece. In this period, the institutions of the church and the aristocracy exerted enormous influence on artistic production in Naples. Spadaro's image employs visual codes drawn from classical antiquity and Christian iconography. We see seated figures draped in classical robes, and floating figures that might be angels or allegorical personifications. These are all typical features of Baroque art, which served to reinforce the power and authority of the ruling elite. To better understand Spadaro's drawing, we might research the patronage networks and artistic academies that shaped his career. We can also analyze the broader social and political context of Naples in the 17th century, a time of upheaval and transformation, to consider the meaning of art as something contingent on historical context.