Boy Drawing before the Bust of a Roman Emperor, c. 1658–61

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For centuries, drawing was the basis of artistic training. Michael Sweerts often depicted artists engaged in drawing live models or plaster casts of famous ancient sculptures. (The artist opened a drawing academy in Brussels in 1656 after a long sojourn in Rome.) This painting is tinged with a hint of irony, however, as Sweerts depicts this young draftsman studying a bust of Vitellius, a notoriously cruel and gluttonous Roman emperor. With black and white chalk in hand, the innocent boy is shown deep in concentration, translating the jowly features of the wicked tyrant onto the page. Is Sweerts suggesting with a wink that attaining skills in this art also corrupts'

Details
Title
Boy Drawing before the Bust of a Roman Emperor
Artist Life
1618 - 1664
Role
Artist
Accession Number
72.65
Provenance
Sale, Sotheby's, London, April 19, 1972, no. 86, as by Wallerand Vaillant, for £3,600, to Drown). [Alberto di Castro, Rome, 1972, sold, as by Michael Sweerts, for $15,517, to Mia]
Curator Approved

This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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