Studies of a Boy and a Girl (recto) Studies of Legs (verso)
1560–1609
Medium
Red chalk, highlighted with white chalk, on beige paper (recto); black and red chalk (verso)
Dimensions
sheet: 9 x 12 5/8 in. (22.9 x 32.1 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harris Brisbane Dick and Rogers Funds, 1972
Accession Number
1972.133.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
Annibale Carracci (1560–1609), a leading figure of the Bolognese School, created this double-sided sheet of studies as part of his lifelong practice of drawing from life. Active during the transition from Mannerism to the Baroque, Carracci rejected artificial poses in favor of natural observation, and sheets like this one reveal how he trained his eye and hand. The rect captures a boy and girl casual, unposed moments, while the verso explores the structure of legs—evidence of the artist’s methodical approach to understanding the human body. Executed in red chalk heightened with white on the f...
About the Artist
Annibale Carracci · 1560–1609
Annibale was considered one of the greatest Italian painters of his age. His style is marked by naturalism combined with the formal language of Classicism in a grand and monumental style. Annibale was also instrumental in evolving the ideal, classical landscape and is generally credited with the invention of caricature. Italian painter. Comment on works: Mythology.