Carnival Figures
Medium
Red chalk on ivory laid paper, tipped onto tan wove paper
Dimensions
14 × 28.7 cm (5 9/16 × 11 5/16 in.)
Classification
chalk
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
85859
Art Historical Context
Behold *Carnival Figures*, a lively red chalk drawing by the 17th-century Florentine artist Baccio del Bianco (1604–1637). Created on ivory laid paper and later tipped onto tan wove paper, this intimate sheet measures just 14 × 28.7 cm, showcasing the artist's deft hand in a preparatory sketch format typical of the Baroque era. Red chalk, favored by draftsmen for its warm tonality and blendability, allowed del Bianco to capture fluid lines and subtle shading with remarkable expressiveness. Del Bianco, a multifaceted figure as painter, architect, and set designer for the Medici court, delighte...