Staande vrouwenfiguur

About this artwork

Purchased with the support of the F.G. Waller-Fonds

Art Historical Context

Behold the elegant *Staande vrouwenfiguur (Standing Female Figure), a pen drawing by Italian Renaissance sculptor and architect Bartolomeo Passarotti1538–1592). Measuring a modest 216 × mm, this intimate sketch exemplifies the precision of 16th-century draftsmanship, likely serving as a preparatory study for one of Passarotti's sculptures. Hailing from Como in Lombardy, Passarotti contributed to the Mannerist evolution of Renaissance art, blending classical proportions with graceful elongation. Pen and ink was a favored medium among artists of this era for its versatility in capturing fluid lines and subtle modeling through hatching and cross-hatching. Such drawings were not mere preliminaries but vital tools for refining anatomy and pose, reflecting the humanist fascination with the idealized human form inspired by antiquity. Passarotti's work bridged sculpture and architecture, influencing Lombard workshops. Acquired with support from the F.G. Waller-Fonds, this piece underscores the lasting cultural value of Renaissance sketches, preserved for their technical mastery and insight into an artist's creative process. A window into the workshops of late 16th-century Italy, it invites us to appreciate the quiet artistry behind grand monuments.

About the Artist

Bartolomeo Passarotti · 1529–1592

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