Right Hand of Jupiter n.d.

Bernard Baron created “Right Hand of Jupiter” sometime between 1696 and 1762 using brown chalk on paper. The drawing’s material has a direct influence on its appearance. Chalk, with its inherent qualities of texture and weight, allowed Baron to capture the anatomical forms and subtle tonal gradations, giving the hand a tangible presence on the page. Baron engaged with skilled traditions of draftsmanship that belong to the histories of creative practices and aesthetics alongside those of craft and fine arts. In the 18th century, drawing served as a crucial method in the circulation of knowledge; prints, paintings, and sculptures would be reproduced in chalk for the consumption of a wider audience. The amount of work involved in the production process of this chalk drawing is therefore tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Understanding the work’s materials, making, and context allows us to appreciate its full meaning and challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.