Artwork
Print from Drawing Book
Print from Drawing Book is an ink print by the Baroque artist Luca Ciamberlano. It dates from 1615 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1615, this print is an engraving by the Italian artist Luca Ciamberlano. Executed in black and white, the work presents a solitary male figure seated on a low bench, viewed from the rear. The composition is rendered with precise, tightly controlled lines that emphasize the figure’s muscular form and the subtle play of light and shadow.
Subject & Meaning
The image focuses on a man turned away from the viewer, his broad shoulders and rounded musculature suggesting a contemplative or idle moment. One arm rests on his knee, while short, slightly tousled hair frames his back. The pose, devoid of narrative detail, invites consideration of the human body as an object of study and aesthetic appreciation.
Technique & Style
Ciamberlano employed the traditional engraving process, incising the design into a metal plate and then inking the recessed lines. The resulting prints display fine hatching and cross‑hatching that generate depth and texture, particularly in the rendering of muscle tone and the bench’s surface. The crisp, linear quality is characteristic of early 17th‑century Italian printmaking.
History & Provenance
The work originates from Ciamberlano’s drawing book, a collection of studies intended for practice and dissemination among artists. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the print reflects the period’s interest in anatomical observation and the circulation of instructional material among workshops in Rome and beyond.
Artist & collection
