[title not known] verso: Standing Infant or Putto 

Curator: This is a drawing by Lady Wharncliffe, created sometime between her birth in 1776 and death in 1853. It is a red chalk study of a figure on a page in what appears to be a sketchbook. Editor: The sanguine medium gives it a certain warmth, doesn't it? The composition feels classical, even academic, yet approachable, immediate. Curator: Sanguine was favored in the Renaissance to capture the warmth of the human body. The drawing evokes a sense of idealized beauty, linking to traditions of classical art and the use of putti as symbols of innocence. Editor: Note the layered application of the chalk, creating volume, particularly in the head turned in profile. It's interesting how the artist uses line weight to direct our gaze. Curator: Right. This is definitely an intimate, personal exploration of beauty and form, embedded within a larger tradition. Editor: It leaves me with a sense of quiet admiration for Lady Wharncliffe's skill and this glimpse into her creative process.