Giovanni da Bologna
c. 1587
Medium
black and red chalks on laid paper
Dimensions
overall: 14.5 x 12.7 cm (5 11/16 x 5 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Julius S. Held Collection, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1984.3.11
Art Historical Context
This intimate portrait drawing by Swiss artist Joseph Heintz the Elder captures the likeness of Giovanni da Bologna, better known as Giambologna, the celebrated Flemish sculptor who spent much of his career in Florence. Created around 1587 during Heintz’s travels in Italy, the work reflects the close artistic circles of the late Renaissance, when painters and sculptors frequently exchanged ideas across courts and workshops. Heintz, later known for his elegant Mannerist paintings at the court of Emperor Rudolf II in Prague, here demonstrates his skill in a more personal medium. Executed in bla...