Satyr Holding a Roundel

Annibale Carracci

1598

chalk

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Nude

About this work

This sketch shows a half-naked man with a wild beard and curly hair, sitting on a rock. His legs dangle over the edge, and his right arm rests on his knee while his left arm reaches upward. The lines are loose and quick, with some shading to show muscle and shadow. The paper has a gray-blue tint, and the artist used black chalk to draw. The sketch feels like a quick study—maybe for a bigger painting. Check out Carracci, Annibale to see more of his work.