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 engraving by Luca Ciamberlano appears in a drawing book and presents a monochrome portrait of a woman in profile. The image is rendered entirely in line, without any applied color, and measures roughly the size of a typical book illustration of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is shown in a three‑quarter view, her hair arranged in two loose buns and a high, stiff collar framing her neck. The composition focuses on the elegance of the sitter’s posture and attire, suggesting a study of contemporary fashion or an idealized feminine type rather than a specific individual.
Technique & Style
Ciamberlano employs dense cross‑hatching, using tightly spaced parallel lines that intersect to model form and suggest shadow. This method creates a nuanced gradation of tone across the face and neck, allowing depth and texture to emerge from the black‑on‑white surface without any tonal washes.
History & Provenance
The print is part of a series of drawings compiled for instructional or reference purposes, typical of early‑17th‑century Italian printmaking workshops. Though the original drawing book’s ownership record is incomplete, the engraving has been catalogued in several collections of Baroque prints, confirming its attribution to Ciamberlano.
Artist & collection
