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Baby [verso]

Baldassare Franceschini

1654

chalk

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque Baroque Nude Putto

Dominant colour

Baby [verso] is a 1654 chalk by Baldassare Franceschini, a Baroque work, depicting Putto, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Baldassare Franceschini
When & what style?: 1654 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This drawing shows a sleeping baby curled up on its side. The artist used black chalk on paper, then added white highlights to make the baby’s skin and clothes pop. It looks soft and warm, not stiff or posed. This isn’t a portrait of a real child. It’s a study—an artist’s practice sketch to capture how light and shadow fall on a rounded form. You can see the pencil lines under the chalk, where the artist adjusted the pose. Try drawing like this yourself. See the National Gallery of Art, Washington.