La Fortuna
1640
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1640
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This sketch shows a muscular, bare-chested man mid-motion, carrying a smaller figure on his back. The man’s legs are spread wide for balance, and his arms strain under the weight. The smaller figure has wings and a serious expression, gripping the man’s shoulders. The background is just swirling lines—like wind or clouds—with no clear ground. The artist used deep shadows to make the figures pop against the light background. The way light hits the bodies makes them look almost three-dimensional. Look up chiaroscuro next to see how this lighting trick works.
