Man and Woman Crowned with Laurel

The drawing Man and Woman Crowned with Laurel by after Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael Italian, 1483-1520, is an exquisite 18th-century Italian study. Created between 1700 and 1799, this piece speaks to the enduring legacy of the High Renaissance master Raphael centuries after his death. The drawing is not an original invention but a meticulous rendering made by an unknown artist attempting to capture the refinement and classical ideal embodied in Raphael’s work.

Classified as a drawing, the technique utilizes vibrant red chalk applied expertly to cream laid paper. This primary sheet was subsequently laid down onto a secondary piece of ivory laid paper, a common preservation method for fragile works during this period. The precise handling of the red chalk allowed the copyist to capture the delicate modeling and subtle drapery characteristic of the earlier Renaissance style.

The subject, featuring a man and woman adorned with laurel crowns, likely references a classical motif of victory, achievement, or marriage, translated through the lens of Renaissance humanism. The culture of 18th-century Italy placed immense value on copying and studying the works of the past, using Raphael’s figures and compositions as a cornerstone for academic artistic training. This drawing serves as tangible evidence of the profound reverence held for Raphael’s compositions throughout the subsequent centuries.

The work resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering scholars and the public an opportunity to examine the evolution of drawing techniques and the persistent influence of classical Italian art. High-resolution images and prints of this classic subject are frequently made available through public domain initiatives.