Study of a Kneeling Figure (recto); Design for a Festival Chariot (verso). 1530 - 1540

This red chalk drawing of a kneeling figure comes to us from an anonymous artist. The sketch is a good reminder that so much of the art we see in museums was not necessarily made for public display. Instead, it could be practice work from an artist's studio or workshop. In Renaissance Italy, academies of art began to formalize the training of artists, teaching them certain techniques and styles. Drawing was central to this training, as young artists were encouraged to develop their skills in representing the human form. Here, we can see a figure swathed in drapery. Such drapery studies were common practice. Of course, some drawings were also made in preparation for larger works. We can see evidence of this on the back of the sheet in the design for a festival chariot. To understand this drawing better, we can look to the historical records of these academies and workshops. We might also examine contemporary sources, such as letters, diaries, and other writings, that shed light on the art world of the time. This will help us consider how institutions shape the art we see today.