Who painted Study for Figure of Fame?

Study for Figure of Fame was painted by Biagio Pupini in 1531.

Where can I see Study for Figure of Fame?

Study for Figure of Fame is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Study for Figure of Fame?

Study for Figure of Fame is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Study for Figure of Fame

Biagio Pupini , 1531

Study for Figure of Fame is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Biagio Pupini. It dates from 1531 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Biagio Pupini’s 1531 drawing, titled Study for Figure of Fame, is executed in pen and brown ink with a brown wash, enhanced by white highlights. The composition features a winged female figure clutching a torch in one hand and a scroll in the other, set against a muted pale blue‑green ground.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure, rendered as a personification of Fame, holds symbols of illumination and proclamation. Flanking her, two plump cherubic forms hover above, their gazes directed downward, reinforcing the theme of divine or celestial endorsement of the celebrated subject.

Technique & Style

Pupini employs swift, gestural lines to suggest the movement of the wings and the drapery of the robe, while the brown wash provides a subtle tonal backdrop. White heightening accentuates the torch’s flame and the cherubs’ features, creating a luminous contrast within the monochrome palette.

Context

Created during the High Renaissance, the drawing reflects the period’s interest in allegorical figures and the study of dynamic human anatomy. Its preparatory nature indicates Pupini’s process of developing a larger composition, a common practice among artists seeking to refine narrative and compositional elements.