Two Studies of Carthusians (recto); Three Sketches of Heads of Carthusians (verso)
1591/92
Medium
Black chalk (recto and verso) on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
17.3 × 12.8 cm (6 13/16 × 5 1/16 in.)
Classification
chalk
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
112396
Art Historical Context
In the late 16th century,entine artist Bernardino Pocc captured the austere grace of Carthusian monks in this double-sided drawing, dated 1591/92. On the recto, two full-length studies depict the monks in their flowing white habits, while the verso features three expressive head sketches. Created with black chalk on delicate ivory laid paper, the sheet measures just 17.3 × 12.8 cm, Poccetti's masterful economy in a portable sketchbook format. Poccetti, a Mannerist painter known for grand fresco cycles in Tuscan churches, often produced such preparatory drawings to refine figures for larger re...
About the Artist
Bernardino Poccetti · 1548–1612
Italian late Renaissance fresco painter, Florence. Comment on works: religious; in Pilkington he is credited with flower paintings