Studies of a Man's Head and of His Hands 1592 - 1599

Federico Barocci made this drawing called, Studies of a Man's Head and of His Hands with chalk on blue paper. The drawing presents an idealised male figure, gazing upwards in a gesture of Christian devotion. Barocci was a key figure in the development of late 16th century Italian painting, when artists were under pressure from the Catholic Church to produce art that would inspire piety in the wake of the Protestant reformation. At this time, the Academy of Art in Florence was establishing strict rules of artmaking based on the classical tradition. How might we interpret Barocci’s drawing in relation to these pressures? On the one hand, the beautiful, idealised figure and careful attention to anatomical detail show that Barocci was working within the aesthetic codes of the time. On the other hand, his soft, sensitive drawing style may have been an attempt to create a more direct connection between the worshipper and the divine. Art historians use a range of documentary sources to explore these questions.