Twee hoofden van jonge kinderen c. 1663 - 1666

Giuseppe Maria Mitelli made this drawing of two young children's heads at an unknown date. Mitelli was from Bologna in Italy. He was trained in the arts of engraving, painting and sculpture, but is best known for his prints. Etchings like this one were usually made either as independent works of art to be sold to collectors, or as preparatory drawings for larger paintings. The social function of an academy like the one Mitelli attended in Bologna was to regulate artistic taste. They did this by defining and promoting particular styles, and subject matter. This drawing demonstrates a kind of classical naturalism and a focus on the human figure, in keeping with the academic style. We can learn more about these influences by consulting treatises on art, architectural drawings, and other works by the artists that were most admired at the time. These help us understand the social norms that influenced the artistic production of the time.