Female Figure Reclining (Allegory of Fame Vanquished by Time), Architectural Studies (recto); Three Studies of a Female Figure Reclining, Studies of Sculptural Ornament (verso), 1660s-1670s
Baldassare Franceschini (il Volterrano)expand_more
Black chalk (recto); black chalk with touches of pen and brown ink (verso)expand_more
Bequest of Professor Alfred Moirexpand_more 2012.58.53
Not on Viewexpand_more
Volterrano’s boundless imagination is on display in this lively double-sided sheet, where the artist’s hand seems to race to keep pace with the inventions pouring onto the page. In addition to some rapidly sketched thoughts for a chapel wall design and sculpted decoration, he explored four ways to represent a woman swooning. In the study on the recto, which was brought to the highest degree of finish, the figure clearly has wings and holds a trumpet in her lap, identifying her as an allegory of fame. The drawing relates to Volterrano’s ceiling fresco in the Palazzo Lanfredini in Florence, Time Plucking the Wings of Fame, which depicts Fame falling at Time’s feet, her trumpet broken beneath her. The artist’s first thought for the violent lunging gesture of the allegory of time might be taking shape in the scribbles jotted at the upper right of the verso.
Details
- Title
- Female Figure Reclining (Allegory of Fame Vanquished by Time), Architectural Studies (recto); Three Studies of a Female Figure Reclining, Studies of Sculptural Ornament (verso)
- Artist Life
- 1611 - 1690
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2012.58.53
- Provenance
- Sale, Sotheby's London, July 3, 1980, no. 67; sold for £780.50 to Moir; Alfred Moir, Santa Barbara (1980-d. 2010; bequeathed to MIA)
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These 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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