Joanna of Aragon

The drawing Joanna of Aragon is attributed to the circle of, or made After Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael Italian, 1483-1520, and dates to the High Renaissance period (1500-1520). This highly finished study is a key example of the enduring influence of the Roman master’s style and compositional genius. The work depicts the celebrated Renaissance noblewoman, Joanna of Aragon (1481-1518), Duchess of Paliano, whose beauty was frequently captured by artists of the period. While the composition closely derives from the famous oil painting by Raphael, this drawing likely served as an intermediate step, either as a copy for study purposes or as preparation for high-quality reproductions and fine art prints.

Classified strictly as a drawing, the work employs black chalk with selective applications of red chalk on ivory laid paper. This careful mixture of materials demonstrates the artist’s mastery in rendering delicate facial features and the luxurious textures of the sitter’s elaborate costume. The combination of black and red chalk allowed Renaissance draftsmen to achieve subtle gradations of tone and volume, essential techniques that preceded the final execution in paint or engraving.

Produced in Italy during the flourishing artistic climate of the early sixteenth century, this drawing exemplifies the widespread dissemination of canonical images. The continuing interest in portraits created by Raphael has ensured that copies and variants, like this one, are often preserved. Today, this unique piece resides in the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. Given the antiquity of the work, high-resolution images are often available within the public domain, allowing scholars worldwide to study the techniques employed by the circle of Raphael.