Young male nude kneeling to the right 1607 - 1675

Vincenzo Dandini made this red chalk drawing of a kneeling male nude in the 17th century. Chalk is interesting stuff: it’s soft, easily powdered, and made from sedimentary rock, formed from the shells of marine organisms that lived millions of years ago. Dandini has used this humble material to achieve a delicate, almost ethereal effect. The powdery quality of the chalk allows him to build up subtle gradations of tone, suggesting the play of light across the figure's body. Look closely, and you can see how the artist has exploited the chalk's tendency to smudge, blurring the edges of the form and creating a sense of movement. The choice of red chalk, or sanguine, is also significant. This pigment has been used by artists for centuries to depict the human form, its warm, earthy tone lending a sense of life and vitality. Dandini skillfully exploits these qualities, creating a drawing that is both technically accomplished and emotionally evocative. Ultimately, understanding the materiality of this work—the qualities of chalk itself—adds to our appreciation.