Man Tugging on Sheet: Study for the Entombment [Sacristy of the Certosa di San Martino, Naples, 1596]

Art Historical Context

In the Prints and Drawings department of the Institute of Chicago, this red chalk drawing on tan laid paper captures Giuseppe Cesari, known asaliere d'Arpino, at the height of his late Mannerist career. Titled *Man Tugging on Sheet Study for the Entomb*, the 1595/96 work (24.8 × 16.7 cm) depicts a dynamic figure straining to pull a shroud, serving as a preparatory sketch for the grand fresco in the Sacristy of Certosa di San Martino in Naples, completed in 1596. Cesari, a Roman painter favored by popes and cardinals, blended elegant Mannerist elongation with emerging naturalism, foreshadowing Baroque drama. Red chalk was Cesari's preferred medium for studies, prized for its warm tone and ability to model forms with subtle hatching and contour lines, allowing artists to refine poses before committing to fresco or canvas. This sheet, now laid down on card for preservation, reveals the meticulous process behind Certosa's monumental Entombment—Christ's burial— a poignant Counter-Reformation theme emphasizing sorrow and piety. Such drawings were rarely seen publicly in Cesari's time, making this a rare glimpse into a master's workshop. Visitors will appreciate how this small gem bridges the Renaissance and Baroque, showcasing Cesari's skill in conveying muscular tension and fabric folds with vivid immediacy.