A Drapery Study for the Knees of a Seated Allegorical Figure of Charity (recto); Bust of a Naked Allegorical Figure of Charity with Two Putti (verso) 1520 - 1530

Giovanni Antonio Sogliani created this drawing of a study for an allegorical figure of Charity with red chalk on paper. Immediately, we are drawn to the sinuous lines and soft gradations of light and shadow that model the drapery. Sogliani's mastery lies in his ability to convey volume and texture through the strategic application of chalk strokes. Note how the density of the lines increases in areas of shadow, creating a sense of depth and weight. The folds of the fabric cascade and pool, emphasizing the underlying structure of the unseen form. Considered through a semiotic lens, the drapery itself functions as a signifier of status, virtue, and even divinity. The flowing fabric not only conceals and reveals but also elevates the figure to a realm of idealized beauty. The arrangement of lines and forms challenges fixed notions of representation, suggesting the transient and ever-shifting nature of meaning itself. This drawing invites us to contemplate the complex interplay between form and content, line and meaning.