Study of Two Figures for the Age of Gold

About this artwork

Pietro da Cortona, a leading figure of the Italian Baroque, created this dynamic *Study of Two Figures for the of Gold* in 1637. Rendered in black chalk and subtly enhanced by the artist wetting the tip for softer, more fluid effects, the drawing measures 12 11/16 x 9 3/4 inches. This technique allowed Cortona to achieve velvety tones and expressive modeling, blending sharp contours with hazy sfumato-like blending—hallmarks of his preparatory sketches for grand frescoes and paintings. As a study for *The Age of Gold*, likely evoking the mythological Golden Age of classical antiquity, it captures a male and female figure in poised interaction, showcasing Cortona's mastery of anatomy and movement. Baroque artists like him used such drawings to refine compositions before executing monumental works, such as his famed Barberini ceiling frescoes in Rome. The wet-chalk rework adds a tactile immediacy, revealing the artist's hands-on process during the vibrant High Baroque era, when Rome buzzed with papal patronage and artistic innovation. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department through the 1971 bequest of Walter C. Baker, this intimate sheet offers visitors a window into Cortona's creative genius, bridging sketchpad experimentation with epic visual narratives.