Figures Carrying a Fainting (or Dead) Woman 1600 - 1700

This drawing in red chalk, titled "Figures Carrying a Fainting (or Dead) Woman," is by an anonymous artist. We can only speculate as to its origins, but the style suggests it was made in Italy, during the Renaissance. Italian Renaissance art frequently referenced classical antiquity, and this drawing is no exception. It illustrates a scene of classical history or mythology in which a woman has either fainted or died, and is being carried by other figures who are dressed in togas and classical armor. A kneeling figure in the lower left seems to be in distress. The use of the image can be understood through the lens of art institutions. The artist may have made this drawing as a preparation for a painting, fresco, or sculpture. Or the image may have been a project for students in an art academy, which were becoming increasingly popular in the 16th century. To better understand the meaning of this drawing, we would need to do further research into the artist, its subject matter, and the artistic and academic institutions of its time.