Woman Crowned with Laurel

The drawing Woman Crowned with Laurel is an 18th-century work created after an original composition by the great Renaissance master, Raffaello Sanzio, called Raphael (Italian, 1483-1520). Executed sometime between 1700 and 1799, this piece demonstrates the enduring influence of Raphael’s classical style centuries after his death. As a drawing, the work focuses intensely on the draped figure of a woman, distinguished by the victor's wreath of laurel leaves circling her head. The practice of creating drawn studies or copies of celebrated originals was a fundamental part of academic artistic training in Italy during the 18th century, allowing students to internalize the techniques and compositional genius of their predecessors.

The medium chosen for this study is red chalk and stumping, applied carefully onto cream laid paper. Red chalk, or sanguine, was prized for its warmth and ability to achieve a nuanced range of shadows, making it an ideal choice for capturing the subtle shifts in form and expression characteristic of the Italian High Renaissance. The artist utilized stumping-the blending of the chalk pigment with a tool-to create soft transitions and depth in the flesh tones and drapery, enhancing the illusion of volume. The medium is further defined by traces of red chalk wash, lending a delicate painterly quality to select areas of the composition.

This drawing speaks to the central role of Rome and Italy in establishing classical artistic ideals throughout Europe. The widespread availability of original compositions, whether through preparatory studies or prints, ensured that the legacy of masters like Raphael remained central to the curriculum of the academies. Now classified as a key piece in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection of European drawings, this work provides insight into the transmission of artistic knowledge across generations. High-resolution images and prints of studies such as this are often available through the museum and associated public domain initiatives, allowing wider access to the continuing tradition of copying and studying masterworks.