Hand Leaning on a Plinth c. 16th century

Curator: Here we have a small drawing by Baldassare Franceschini, called Volterrano, titled "Hand Leaning on a Plinth," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a study in red chalk, measuring roughly 12 by 10 centimeters. Editor: It feels so intimate, doesn’t it? Like a stolen moment, a glimpse into the artist's process. The red chalk gives it a warmth, a humanness. Curator: Absolutely. Volterrano and his workshop produced many drawings for paintings in fresco or oil. This drawing could be just one sheet from a larger body of work, and an example of workshop practice. Editor: I find myself wondering about the plinth. Is it a literal object, or more a support for the imagination? The hand seems poised, almost as if ready to write or gesture. Curator: The plinth, in this case, could symbolize the foundation of artistic skill, the classical world on which artistic vision is built. Editor: Perhaps. Or maybe it's just a place to rest a weary hand. Either way, it makes you wonder about the stories it could tell. Curator: It’s a beautiful reminder that even the smallest sketch can offer profound insights into the artist’s world and the historical context that shaped them.