Seated Youth Writing in Book

The drawing Seated Youth Writing in Book is attributed to a hand working in the style of Raffaello Sanzio (called Raphael, Italian, 1483-1520). Executed sometime between 1600 and 1799, this highly finished piece is classified as a drawing, rendered masterfully in pen and brown ink on ivory laid paper. The designation "After Raphael" places the work within a long tradition of artistic education and reverence, indicating it is a copy or close interpretation of a design originated by the Renaissance master, created long after his death. This practice was immensely common in Italy and across Europe, where Raphael’s influential compositions and anatomical studies served as foundational educational material for subsequent generations of artists.

The subject depicts a male youth, perhaps a student or scholar, intensely focused on the act of writing in a large volume resting on his knee. The artist meticulously utilizes the brown ink to define form and depth, creating delicate shadows through careful cross-hatching, a technique typical of preparatory studies or finished cabinet drawings of the 17th or 18th century. Despite its reliance on an earlier concept, the draftsmanship maintains a strong connection to the Classical ideals championed by Sanzio. This work is part of the extensive collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it helps illustrate Raphael's enduring influence and the tradition of drawing replication across the centuries. High-resolution images and prints of such historically significant Italian works are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring widespread scholarly access to this heritage.