Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by the Baroque artist Guercino. It dates from 1610 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This drawing depicts a young woman in profile, rendered in a loose yet precise style.
About this work
Overview
This drawing depicts a young woman in profile, rendered in a loose yet precise style. The work is executed on aged paper, with visible signs of wear.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is shown wearing a hat and holding a branch with leaves and buds, with one flower being smelled. Her face is turned away, creating a sense of quiet contemplation.
Technique & Style
The artist employed shading and layered lines to achieve a range of tonal values, with cross-hatching used to build up darker areas. The resulting effect is a nuanced interplay of light and shadow.
History & Provenance
The paper's aged appearance, with brown spots and uneven edges, suggests that the drawing is of some age, although its exact provenance is not specified.
Artist & collection
Artist
Giovanni Francesco Barbieri (8 February 1591 – 22 December 1666), better known as (il) Guercino (Italian pronunciation: ), was an Italian Baroque painter and draftsman from Cento in the Emilia region, who was active in Rome and Bologna.
