Who painted Studies of a Costume, Sleeve, and Hand?

Studies of a Costume, Sleeve, and Hand was painted by Pietro Longhi in 1747.

Where can I see Studies of a Costume, Sleeve, and Hand?

Studies of a Costume, Sleeve, and Hand is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Studies of a Costume, Sleeve, and Hand?

Studies of a Costume, Sleeve, and Hand is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Studies of a Costume, Sleeve, and Hand

Pietro Longhi , 1747

Studies of a Costume, Sleeve, and Hand is a drawing by the Baroque artist Pietro Longhi. It dates from 1747 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

You see a close-up of a man’s coat sleeve, a gloved hand gripping a walking stick, and a bit of cuff peeking out.

You see a close-up of a man’s coat sleeve, a gloved hand gripping a walking stick, and a bit of cuff peeking out.

Longhi used two kinds of chalk—black for the fabric’s sharp folds, red for the skin’s warm glow. These quick sketches were practice for his painted scenes of Venetian life. The details tell you who the man is without ever showing his face.

Look up other works tagged “Italy, 18th century” to see how artists dressed the people of the time.

Overview

This drawing by Pietro Longhi focuses on specific elements of a figure, capturing the intricacies of a man’s attire and gesture without depicting his face.

Subject & Meaning

The work conveys the subject’s character and social status through meticulous renderings of a frock coat sleeve, gloved hand, and walking stick, implying the man’s identity through these details.

Technique & Style

Longhi utilizes contrasting chalks—black for sharp fabric folds and red for warm skin tones—to achieve a nuanced, expressive sketch, characteristic of his detailed observational style.

History & Provenance

Created as a preparatory study for Longhi’s painted scenes of Venetian life, this drawing demonstrates his practice of honing details before larger compositions.

Context

Reflecting 18th-century Italian artistic practices, the piece aligns with contemporaneous depictions of attire, offering insight into the era’s social expressions through clothing.