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Venus and Cupid in a Chariot
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Giovanni Francesco Barbiere, called Guercino, was a prolific draftsman who used drawing not only to prepare for his many painting commissions but also to record and explore his ideas for future use. This preparatory drawing, made early in his career, reflects Guercino's nonlinear preparatory process and his simultaneous work on different compositions. It relates in format to the painted decoration at the Casa Pannini in his native town of Cento, but it features Venus instead of Diana as in the finished fresco. Guercino's combination of rapid and sure pen lines with ink wash, applied with expert variegation to create deep shadows and bright highlights, is a paradigm of the artist's exuberant high Baroque style.
| Artist / Maker | Guercino |
|---|---|
| Date | 1615–17 |
| Culture / Origin | Italy, Bologna |
| Medium | Pen and brown ink and brush and brown wash over red chalk |
| Dimensions | Sheet: 25.5 x 39.4 cm (10 1/16 x 15 1/2 in.) |
| Department | Drawings |
| Type | Drawing |
About the Artist
BiographyGuercino (1591–1666) — Painter of the Italian 17th century (1591–1666).Guercino worked as painter, draftsperson, designer and visual artist and is associated with Papal States. Their documented life spans the years 1591 to 1666, born in Cento, died in Bologna. Their work is linked to Baroque.Disciplinespainter, draftsperson, designer, visual artistBorn1591, CentoDied1666, BolognaNationalityPapal StatesMovementBaroqueSources: Wikidata · Wikipedia Full biography →
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
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