Artwork
Cupid Drawing His Bow
Cupid Drawing His Bow is a drawing by the Renaissance artist Federico Barocci. It dates from 1564 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Cupid Drawing His Bow is a preparatory drawing by Federico Barocci, part of his meticulous creative process for a larger work. The piece features a chubby, winged putto (Cupid) in a tense, bow-drawing pose, with a superimposed grid of tiny squares indicating intended enlargement.
Subject & Meaning
While ostensibly depicting Cupid, the drawing's primary purpose was as a figure study, potentially for the Christ Child in Barocci's Martyrdom of St. Sebastian altarpiece. The putto's legs were directly reused in the final composition.
Technique & Style
Executed in black and colored chalks (pastelli), the drawing reflects the mid-16th-century introduction of colored chalks to Italy. Soft, blended lines, suggestive of sfumato techniques, characterize the work, with possible finger-smudging of the chalk.
History & Provenance
Created as part of Barocci's preparatory process for the Martyrdom of St. Sebastian altarpiece (intended for Urbino cathedral's Bonaventura Chapel), the drawing follows his method of studies from nature, wax models, and full-scale cartoons.
Context
The work embodies Barocci's Umbrian artistic approach, influenced by the spread of Venetian techniques (like pastelli) down the Adriatic. It also highlights the artist's laborious, multi-step creative process.
Legacy
As a preparatory study, its legacy lies in informing the final altarpiece. The drawing demonstrates Barocci's adherence to and innovation within 16th-century artistic practices, contributing to the broader understanding of his methodical artistic approach.
Artist & collection
Artist
Federico Barocci (also written Barozzi) (c. 1535 – 30 September 1612) was an Italian Renaissance painter and printmaker. His original name was Federico Fiori, and he was nicknamed Il Baroccio. His work was highly…
