Cesare Pollini

Cesare Pollini was an artist active during the latter half of the 16th century, documented as working between approximately 1560 and 1600. The relatively small corpus of his work preserved in American institutions consists of drawings, which confirm his proficiency in intricate figural and narrative composition.

The five drawings represented in major museum collections showcase his versatility in handling both sacred and classical iconography. His religious subjects focus on New Testament figures, including Studies of a Holy Family, Saint Joseph and the Christ Child with Angels and Putti, The Adoration of the Shepherds, and The Baptism of Christ. Demonstrating a mastery of secular themes alongside devotional works, the collection also includes the mythological study, Triumph of Bacchus with Drunken Silenus on Donkey.

Pollini’s historical standing is reinforced by the presence of his drawings in three significant institutions: the National Gallery of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Art Institute of Chicago. As works by artists of this period often move into the public domain, reproductions and Cesare Pollini prints are becoming available for research. Today, high-quality prints of his delicate drawings are sought after by collectors interested in late 16th-century draftsmanship.