Study of a Youth for the Loggia of Cupid and Psyche 1611 - 1613

This preparatory drawing by Cigoli, titled "Study of a Youth for the Loggia of Cupid and Psyche", showcases the artist's masterful skill in capturing the human form. The artist, whose real name was Lodovico Cardi, utilized charcoal on blue paper to render a young male figure, dynamically posed with arms outstretched, a detail that speaks to the artist's interest in capturing movement. This drawing serves as a study for the Loggia of Cupid and Psyche, an architectural space in Florence, Italy, which was later adorned with frescoes by Cigoli. It exemplifies the practice of detailed figure studies common to Renaissance artists, offering a glimpse into the creative process of the influential Mannerist painter.