Head Looking Upwards

Art Historical Context

Behold the delicate *Head Looking Upwards*, a drawing from the Sienese school of the late medieval or early Renaissance period. Created by an unknown artist from Siena, Italy—a city renowned for its elegant Gothic and proto-Renaissance art—this undated work exemplifies the refined draftsmanship of Sienese masters like Simone Martini or the Lorenzetti brothers. The upward gaze evokes spiritual devotion, a common motif in religious iconography, suggesting it may have been a study for a larger painting of a saint, angel, or ecstatic figure. Executed in red and black chalk heightened with lead white (now partially oxidized, lending a subtle patina), on tan laid paper and later laid down on ivory laid paper, the piece measures a modest 29.4 × 22 cm. Chalk was prized in the Renaissance for its versatility, allowing artists to model forms with soft, blended tones and luminous highlights. The dual-chalk technique captures the head's expressive tilt and ethereal light, showcasing Siena's emphasis on graceful line and emotional intensity over Florentine realism. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, this intimate study offers a window into the preparatory genius of Sienese artists, whose works bridged Byzantine tradition and emerging naturalism. Visitors will appreciate its tactile immediacy, a testament to drawing as both art and craft.