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 forms part of a drawing book rather than a standalone artwork. Executed in a modest scale, it depicts a solitary nude male figure holding a spear within a sparsely furnished interior. The composition functions as a study of anatomy and light, offering insight into the artist’s preparatory practice.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a nude man, rendered in a contrapposto stance, clutching a spear that suggests a classical or mythological reference, though no narrative context is provided. The bare setting emphasizes the body’s musculature, directing attention to the study of human form rather than to any specific story.
Technique & Style
Ciamlberlano employs precise, clean lines combined with dense cross‑hatching to model volume and create subtle shadows. The engraving’s crisp incisions convey a tactile sense of flesh, while the fine hatching builds depth without relying on elaborate background detail, underscoring its purpose as a technical exercise.
History & Provenance
The print originates from a drawing book compiled by Ciamberlano, likely intended for instructional use or personal study. No record indicates it was ever displayed as a finished piece; instead, it circulated among artists and apprentices as a reference for rendering the male nude and mastering chiaroscuro in engraving.
Artist & collection
