A Boy Smiling c. 1750

"A Boy Smiling" is a c. 1750 charcoal drawing by Italian artist Francesco Zuccarelli (1702-1788). The work features a young boy's head and shoulders, the subject's gaze meeting the viewer's directly. The use of charcoal lends a softness to the drawing, capturing the boy's innocence and youthful charm. The work is a testament to Zuccarelli's skill as a draftsman, adeptly rendering subtle details of the boy's features and expression. This piece, a small-scale study, likely served as a preliminary sketch for a larger painting or a preparatory work for a portrait commission.