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Half-Length of Mary Magdalene [verso]

Federico Barocci

1566

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

Half-Length of Mary Magdalene [verso] is a 1566 chalk by Federico Barocci, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Federico Barocci
When & what style?: 1566 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing depicts a woman with long hair, facing left. Her eyes are cast downward, and her right hand is raised to her chest. The drawing is rendered in black chalk, with touches of white highlighting her face and body. The woman's features are delicately drawn, with subtle shading that suggests a sense of depth and volume. Her hair is depicted in loose, flowing lines, and her clothing is suggested by a few quick strokes of the chalk. The drawing is a beautiful example of Renaissance art, with its delicate lines and subtle shading. To learn more about the techniques used in this drawing, you might want to look up the term "chiaroscuro".

About the artist

Artist

Federico Barocci

Federico Barocci (also written Barozzi) (c. 1535 – 30 September 1612) was an Italian Renaissance painter and printmaker. His original name was Federico Fiori, and he was nicknamed Il Baroccio. His work was highly…

See the richer artist page