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The image shows a sketch of a person with only the upper portion of their body visible. The person is depicted in a dynamic, turned position, with one arm raised. Their face is partially obscured but has a strong profile with a prominent nose and closed eyes. The hair appears styled or adorned with what looks like foliage or leaves. The person's clothing is a draped garment, possibly a tunic, highlighted with sketch-like lines suggesting fabric folds and motion. There is no visible jewelry or held objects due to the sketch's simplicity and style. The background is minimally detailed, with coarse shading.
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The image shows a sketch of a person with only the upper portion of their body visible. The person is depicted in a dynamic, turned position, with one arm raised. Their face is partially obscured but has a strong profile with a prominent nose and closed eyes. The hair appears styled or adorned with what looks like foliage or leaves. The person's clothing is a draped garment, possibly a tunic, highlighted with sketch-like lines suggesting fabric folds and motion. There is no visible jewelry or held objects due to the sketch's simplicity and style. The background is minimally detailed, with coarse shading.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

Bacchus

Italian 17th Century (Neapolitan?)

Medium
black chalk with gray wash on blue paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.8 x 29.1 cm (14 1/8 x 11 7/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1994.60.36
Credit line
Gift of Ruth B. Benedict
Time span
1551 to 1600
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Italian
  • mythology
  • Bacchus
Provenance

Unidentified collector (stamp not deciphered); Robert Fullarton Udny (1722-1802), London and Teddinton (Lugt 2248); Dr. Ruth B. Benedict (1913-1993), Washington; bequest to NGA, 1994.

NGA object ID 79392. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.