Female Head in Profile, Facing Right

The drawing Female Head in Profile, Facing Right is attributed to the After Workshop of Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael Italian, 1483-1520. Classified as a preparatory or study drawing, this piece was executed between 1700 and 1720, utilizing the highly controlled technique of black and red chalk on ivory laid paper.

The delicate application of the dual-color chalks illustrates common drafting practices of the period, emphasizing contour, facial expression, and subtle modeling of the form. The subject is presented in a strict profile view, a format frequently employed in Renaissance and Baroque preparatory sketches and idealized portraits, echoing classical traditions.

Despite the 18th-century dating, this piece reflects the enduring legacy of the High Renaissance master, Raphael. During the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly within Italy, copies and meticulous studies derived from Raphael's surviving compositions were essential tools for artistic training and scholarly analysis. This drawing functions as a detailed record or homage, created long after the master's death in 1520, yet preserving the idealized proportions and meticulous draftsmanship associated with his Roman period.

This sheet is a significant example of how classical drawing ideals were transmitted through subsequent generations of artists. Housed in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, this drawing is frequently referenced by scholars studying the persistence of the Raphael tradition. As the image falls within the public domain, high-quality prints and digital reproductions allow for wider global access to this important cultural artifact.