Muse

"Muse," a refined drawing executed between 1700 and 1799, is an academic copy made after the work of the High Renaissance master Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael Italian, 1483-1520. This piece exemplifies the rigorous training methodology common in 18th-century Italy, where artists perfected their technique by faithfully reproducing the compositions of celebrated predecessors.

The medium is red chalk applied to cream laid paper, a traditional choice for figure studies. The unknown draftsman utilized stumping extensively, a technique that softens the chalk lines and allows for subtle gradations of tone, imparting a sophisticated, almost painterly depth to the classical figure. Touches of red chalk wash are incorporated, likely to emphasize contours or drapery folds, demonstrating the artist’s careful attention to modeling and light effects derived from the tradition of the Renaissance master.

The drawing, likely representing one of the nine Muses from Greek mythology, captures a sense of intellectual grace and formal precision characteristic of Sanzio’s artistic ideals. The enduring influence of Raphael meant that his compositions were frequently copied and circulated, serving as benchmarks for aspiring artists for centuries. Today, works derived from this period in Italy, particularly those reflecting classical aesthetics, often enter the public domain, making high-quality prints and reproductions widely accessible for academic study. This exquisite example of later academic draftsmanship is preserved in the Drawing collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.