Ancient Relief with Hercules and the Mares of Diomedes (recto); Two Sketches: Draped Satyr and Winged Female Figure (verso)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite double-sided drawing by Girolamo da Car, a Ferrarese artist active in the mid-16th century (c. 1521–1556), captures the Renaissance passion for classical antiquity. On recto, executed in precise pen and brown ink with traces of red chalk on tan laid paper, Carpi meticulously copies an ancient relief depicting Hercules ninth labor: capturing the ferocious, man-eating Mares of Diomedes, king of Thrace. This mythological scene, drawn from Greek lore, showcases the hero's superhuman strength amid dynamic horses and rearing figures, rendered with fluid lines that evoke the original sculpture's sculptural depth. The verso features two lively sketches in pen and brown ink—a draped satyr, embodying Dionysian revelry, and a winged female figure, possibly a Victory or siren—revealing Carpi's spontaneous creativity. These studies highlight his skill in rapid, expressive draughtsmanship, a hallmark of Renaissance workshops where artists honed anatomy and pose through such exercises. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings collection, this compact sheet (16.6 × 28.9 cm) exemplifies how 16th-century Italian draughtsmen like Carpi bridged ancient sources with emerging Mannerist tendencies, blending fidelity to the antique with imaginative flair. A window into an artist's exploratory process, it invites visitors to appreciate the tactile beauty of ink on laid paper.