Saturday, July 29, 2017

European Drawings 1610-1620

Abraham Bloemaert
Four Evangelists writing Gospels around a table
ca. 1612-15
drawing
Teylers Museum, Haarlem

The Wax Image of the Archangel

The invisible Archangel, though without a body
has been given a shape by wax of great daring.
How wonderful, for a mortal gazing at this image
raises his soul to a higher plane.

The mortal's awe and reverence no longer waver.
He carves into himself the Archangel's image,
trembling as if in the angelic presence.
Man's eyes inspire the depths of his mind, and art
through its colors embodies the prayer of the soul.

– Agathia Scholasticus (ca. AD 532-580), translated by Peter Constantine and published in The Greek Poets (New York: Norton, 2010)

Federico Barocci
Landscape with bank and trees
before 1612
drawing, watercolor
British Museum

Federico Barocci
Adoration of the Magi
before 1612
drawing
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Peter Paul Rubens
Saddled Horse
ca. 1615-18
drawing
Albertina, Vienna

Cesare Nebbia
"Suffer the little children to come unto me"
before 1614
drawing
British Museum

Isaac Oliver
Two Classical Figures
before 1617
drawing
Morgan Library, New York

Anonymous artist working in Rome
Model, half-length, hand behind back
ca. 1600-1615
drawing on blue paper
Teylers Museum, Haarlem

This story is not true,
you did not sail in full-decked ships
nor reach the towers of Troy.

– Stesichorus (ca. 600-550 BC), translated by Diane Rayor and published in The Greek Poets (New York: Norton, 2010)

Cherubino Alberti
Studies of three nudes
before 1615
drawing
Royal Collection, Windsor

Anonymous artist working in Bologna
Landscape with Well
ca. 1616-20
drawing
Teylers Museum, Haarlem

Anonymous artist working in Bologna
Landscape with Tree and House
ca. 1616-20
drawing
Teylers Museum, Haarlem

Antonio Tempesta
Battle of Horsemen
ca. 1610-15
wash drawing
British Museum

In a golden urn they put the bones
shrouding the urn with veiling of soft purple.
Then in a grave dug deep they placed it
and heaped it with great stones. The men were quick
to raise the death-mound, while in every quarter
lookouts were posted to ensure against
an Akhaian surprise attack. When they had finished
raising the barrow, they returned to Ilion,
where all sat down to banquet in his honor
in the hall of Priam king. So they performed
the funeral rites of Hektor, tamer of horses. 

– Homer (second half of eighth century BC), from the Iliad, Book 24, translated by Robert Fitzgerald

Domenichino
Head of young woman
ca. 1612-15
drawing
Teylers Museum, Haarlem

Domenichino
Head of bearded old man
ca. 1613-15
drawing
Teylers Museum, Haarlem

follower of Annibale Carracci
Monk receiving Habit
ca. 1610
drawing
British Museum

Sisto Badalocchio
Study of Kneeling Woman for an Entombment
ca. 1618
drawing
British Museum