Juno and Aeolus
Medium
Pen and brown ink, and brush and brown wash, with traces of black chalk, on cream laid paper laid, down on cream laid paper
Dimensions
32.8 × 28.3 cm (12 15/16 × 11 3/16 in.)
Classification
ink or chalk wash
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
105805
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Francesco Solimena, a leading figure of the late Baroque period in Naples, created this dynamic drawing of *Juno and Aeolus*. The scene draws from classical mythology, likely inspired by Virgil’s *Aeneid*, in which the goddess Juno persuades Aeolus, keeper of the winds, to unleash a storm against her enemies. Solimena’s fluid lines and dramatic contrasts capture the tension and movement central to Baroque storytelling, reflecting his reputation for theatrical compositions that influenced generations of European artists. Executed in pen and brown ink with brush-applied washes over traces of black chalk, the work exemplifies the expressive potential of ink media. The layered washes allow Solimena to suggest light, shadow, and volume with remarkable economy, a technique often used by Baroque draftsmen to prepare ideas for larger paintings or frescoes. Measuring just over 12 by 11 inches, this intimate sheet on laid paper reveals the artist’s working process and the vitality of Neapolitan draftsmanship. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings collection, the drawing offers visitors a rare glimpse into how 17th- and 18th-century masters developed grand narrative scenes. Its energetic handling of form and emotion continues to engage viewers with the timeless drama of myth and the enduring power of ink as an artistic medium.
About the Artist
Francesco Solimena · 1657–1747
Comment on works: History; Religious