A Gazelle in Profile, Moving Toward the Right

Michelino da Besozzo (Michelino de Mulinari)

early 15th century · Tip of the brush and brown, gray (both in various shades), and black ink; contours with metalpoint (?or black chalk?); touches of white chalk; brown and light brownish gray wash; on vellum. · Robert Lehman Collection

The Lombard artist Michelino da Besozzo was celebrated during his lifetime for his naturalism, especially in rendering animals and birds. This magnificent drawing, probably made by an artist strongly influenced by Michelino, resembles the technique of the illuminations for which he was famous. As it is executed on vellum (a fine-quality parchment) rather than paper, it may have come from a model book; such books were commonly used at the time to record motifs for later use in painted compositions.

Artist

Michelino da Besozzo (Michelino de Mulinari)

Date

early 15th century

Medium

Tip of the brush and brown, gray (both in various shades), and black ink; contours with metalpoint (?or black chalk?); touches of white chalk; brown and light brownish gray wash; on vellum.

Department

Robert Lehman Collection

Credit line

Robert Lehman Collection, 1975