1500
chalk
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Bust of a Youth Looking Upward [recto] is a 1500 chalk by Luca Signorelli, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a young person’s face and shoulders turned slightly upward, as if looking at something above. The lines are scratchy and uneven, made with black chalk on light, rough paper. You can see where the artist pressed harder in some spots, making the lines deeper. The paper has a warm, tan color, and the drawing looks like it was made quickly—maybe even sketched while the artist studied the person’s face. The artist used a sharp tool to indent some lines, which makes them stand out more. Next, look up *chiaroscuro* to see how artists use light and shadow to create depth.
Luca Signorelli (c. 1441/1445 – 16 October 1523) was an Italian Renaissance painter from Cortona, in Tuscany, who was noted in particular for his ability as a draftsman and his use of foreshortening. His massive frescos…
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