Allegorical Figure of Purity with a Unicorn and Putto (recto); Study of a Nude Boy (verso)
Medium
Red chalk on beige paper
Dimensions
15-5/8 x 10-5/16 in. (39.7 x 26.2 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1969
Accession Number
69.172
Tags
Art Historical Context
Created in 1642 by the Italian Baroque artist Baldassare Franceschini, known as il Volterrano, this-sided drawing exemplifies the preparatory sketches that fueled the grand frescoes and paintings of 17th-century Florence. the recto, an elegant allegorical figure of Purity stands gracefully with a unicorn— a mythical symbol of chastity and virtue rooted in Renaissance iconography—and a playful putto, evoking of innocence and divine protection. The verso features a lively study of a nude boy showcasing Volterrano's skill in capturing youthful anatomy with fluid, expressive lines. Executed in re...