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Studies of a Left Arm, a Young Woman, a Madonna and Child, a Face in Profile, and Nude Figures

Bartolomeo Passarotti

1560

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Studies of a Left Arm, a Young Woman, a Madonna and Child, a Face in Profile, and Nude Figures is a 1560 ink by Bartolomeo Passarotti, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Bartolomeo Passarotti
When & what style?: 1560 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows quick, loose drawings of people and poses. Some figures are fully formed, like a woman holding a child and a standing woman in profile. Others are just arms, hands, or heads—some barely more than scribbles. The lines are dark and crisscrossed, especially on the draped cloth and one arm, where tiny strokes build up shadow. The paper looks old and yellowed, with a few smudges where the ink bled. The artist clearly practiced different poses, some rough and others more careful. The handwriting in the corner is messy, like notes jotted down while working. If you like this sketchy style, look up cross-hatching next.

About the artist

Artist

Bartolomeo Passarotti

Bartolomeo Passarotti or Passerotti (1529–1592) was an Italian painter of the mannerist period, who worked mainly in his native Bologna. His family name is also spelled Passerotti or Passarotto.

See the richer artist page