Judith with the Head of Holofernes and Sketches of River Gods (recto); Female Head, Looking Upwards (verso) c. 1639

Simone Cantarini's drawing, "Judith with the Head of Holofernes and Sketches of River Gods (recto); Female Head, Looking Upwards (verso)", showcases the artist's mastery of the Baroque style. The recto depicts a scene from the biblical story of Judith, with sketches of river gods at the bottom. This composition, executed in pen and brown ink on paper, demonstrates Cantarini's interest in figure studies and his ability to capture the drama of the scene. The verso features a female head, a testament to Cantarini's skill in rendering human anatomy. This drawing, dating to c. 1639, exemplifies the dynamism and expressiveness characteristic of Cantarini's work.