Figure and Drapery studies (recto); Three Studies of a Male Torso for the 'Coronation of Marcantonio Pasqualini' (verso)

Andrea Sacchi

1641 · red and white chalk (recto), red chalk (verso) on paper · Drawings and Prints

In this sheet of studies of a male torso Sacchi worked out the pose of the god Apollo for his painting Marcantonio Pasqualini Crowned by Apollo (on view in the Museum's European Paintings galleries). A masterpiece of Italian Baroque art, the painting is a portrait of a celebrated singer at the papal court as well as an allegory of music. The figure of Apollo is loosely based on the famous Apollo Belvedere, an exceedingly influential ancient Roman sculpture in the Vatican collections. Here, Sacchi shows him holding a lyre (an ancient stringed instrument sacred to Apollo) in his left hand and a wreath with which he prepares to crown the triumphant singer in his upraised right hand. Both details of Apollo's pose were retained in the final painting.

Artist

Andrea Sacchi

Date

1641

Medium

red and white chalk (recto), red chalk (verso) on paper

Department

Drawings and Prints

Credit line

Purchase, Guy Wildenstein Gift, 2003