Cavalry Skirmish (recto); Kneeling Ecorché (verso)
1530/39
Medium
Pen and brown ink with brush and gray wash, over black chalk, with later additions of brown wash in lower right, on ivory laid paper, edge mounted to cream laid paper, hinged on ivory wove card
Dimensions
26.7 × 42 cm (10 9/16 × 16 9/16 in.)
Classification
ink with wash
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
113032
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Francesco Salviati's *Cavalry Skirmish (recto); Kneeling Ecorchéverso)*, created between 1530 and 1539, exemplifies the dynamic energy of Florentine Mannerism. On the front, a chaotic skirmish of mounted warriors captures the artist's fascination with movement and complex compositions, influenced by Michelangelo's bold forms and the elegant distortions of Mannerist style. The verso features a meticulous anatomical study of a kneelingcorché—a flayed figure revealing underlying muscles—highlighting Salviati's rigorous preparation for his paintings and frescoes. Executed in pen and brown ink with brush and gray wash over black chalk on ivory laid paper, this double-sided sheet showcases Renaissance drawing techniques. The layered media allowed Salviati to sketch fluidly with chalk, define contours with ink, and model volumes with subtle gray washes, creating depth and drama. Note the later brown wash additions in the lower right, a common restoration touch. Measuring 26.7 × 42 cm, its intimate scale belies its technical virtuosity. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, this work reveals the preparatory genius behind Salviati's grand Mannerist oeuvre, bridging battle's frenzy with anatomy's precision—a testament to 16th-century Italian artists' blend of action and intellect.