Head of a Young Woman in Three-Quarter View Facing Left
Medium
Brush and brown wash, highlighted with white and cream gouache (partly oxidized), over a preliminary freehand and ruled underdrawing in charcoal, outlines stylus-incised for transfer, on four glued sheets of light tan paper with deckled borders. Traces of framing outlines stylus-ruled along upper, right, and bottom borders
Dimensions
18-1/8 x 14-3/16 in. (46 x 36 cm), irregular borders
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1966
Accession Number
66.14
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking drawing, created between 1670 and 1700, captures the gentle gaze of a young woman in three-quarter view. Attributed to the Bolognese artists Marcantonio Franceschini or his teacher Carlo Cignani, it reflects the refined classicism of late Baroque Bologna. The large sheet, assembled from four pieces of paper, was carefully prepared as a working study, with stylus-incised outlines indicating it was designed for transfer to a painting or fresco. The technique combines fluid brushwork in brown wash with luminous white and cream gouache highlights, creating a sculptural sense of volume and light. Such drawings were essential tools in the Bolognese workshop tradition, allowing artists to refine compositions and train assistants. The sensitive modeling of the face and the subtle play of light demonstrate the period’s emphasis on graceful naturalism and emotional clarity. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum in 1966, the work offers visitors a rare glimpse into the meticulous process behind Baroque painting. Its warm, intimate portrayal of the sitter continues to convey both technical mastery and quiet humanity.