 |
| Leonardo da Vinci Study of woman's head ca. 1485-90 drawing on blue paper Royal Collection, Windsor |
Paper tinted blue (by papermakers, during manufacture) was a moderately fashionable commodity in Renaissance Europe, in demand for writing, drawing, and even letterpress printing. This blue-paper fashion expanded and peaked during the 18th century. Samples chosen here are fairly well-preserved, though less vivid than they once were. Many such papers have faded to gray or to some indeterminate pale shade.
 |
| Giovanni Angelo Canini Study for fallen Angel 1655 drawing on blue paper Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf |
 |
| Albrecht Dürer Study of feet 1508 drawing on blue paper Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam |
 |
| Agostino Carracci Kneeling figure ca. 1582-85 drawing on blue paper Getty Museum, Los Angeles |
 |
| Annibale Carracci Study for St Andrew before 1605 drawing on blue paper Royal Collection, Windsor |
305
Like the sunburst up the white breast of a black-footed penguin
amid infinite quantities of gin
Henry perceived his subject.
It came nearer, like a guilty bystander,
stood close, leaving no room to ponder,
Mickey Mouse & The Tiger on the table.
Leaving the ends aft open, touch the means,
whereby we ripen. Touch by all means the means
whereby we come to life,
enduring the manner for the matter, ay
I sing quickly, offered Henry, I
sing more quickly.
I sing with infinite slowness finite pain
I have reached into the corner of my brain
to have it out.
I sat by fires when I was young, & now
I'm not I sit by fires again, although
I do it more slowly.
– from The Dream Songs by John Berryman (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1969)
 |
| Giorgio Vasari Annunciation 1545 drawing on blue paper Kupferstichkabinett, Berlin |
 |
| Giacinto Calandrucci Study for figure of Aurora 1680s drawing on blue paper Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf |
 |
| Hendrik Goltzius The Albani Faun (ancient statue, restored) drawing 1590-91 Teylers Museum, Haarlem |
 |
| Domenichino Study for Ignudo ca. 1607-1610 drawing on blue paper Royal Collection, Windsor |
 |
| Luca Giordano Young man pulling a rope ca. 1700 drawing on blue paper Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum |
 |
| Jean Restout the Younger Seated Faun ca. 1753-59 drawing on blue paper Museum of Fine Arts, Houston |
 |
| Wouda Piera Académie 1780 drawing on blue paper Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
 |
| Pompeo Batoni Académie 1765 drawing on blue paper Philadelphia Museum of Art |
 |
| Giovanni Antonio Grecolini Académie before 1725 drawing on blue paper Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf |