Dancing Putto Holding a Drapery c. 1493 - 1497

Filippino Lippi created this drawing of a Dancing Putto Holding a Drapery with pen and brown ink in the late 15th century. The paper support itself is unassuming, yet the energy of the artist’s hand is vividly present. Note the variety of marks, from the delicate hatching that defines the putto's chubby limbs to the more assertive strokes indicating movement and drapery. The artist's hand moved across the page with both precision and freedom, capturing the essence of a lively figure in motion. The use of ink allows for subtleties of tone and depth, particularly where the ink pools and darkens. Drawing was an essential practice for Renaissance artists, and this sheet provides insight into Lippi's working process. The image showcases the importance of draftsmanship in the creation of larger, more elaborate compositions. By focusing on the materials and the making, we recognize the skill and labor invested in this drawing, and how it bridges the divide between the idea and its material realization.