Head of St. Damian
Artist
Jacopo Palma, il giovane
(Italian, ca. 1544 - 1628)
Datec. 1575
CultureItalian
MediumBlack chalk heightened with white chalk (recto), pen and brown ink (verso)
ClassificationDrawings
Credit LineMuseum purchase, 1959
Object numberSN705
Aside from a trip to Rome in early 1570s, Jacopo Palma spent his entire career in Venice. As such, his style is a synthesis of typically Venetian sensibilities. The contours of St. Damian's face, for instance, are formed with the utmost brevity, and the line is extremely variable-long and dense at the base of his chin, short and wispy at the side of his beard. Loose, open draftsmanship was a hallmark of Venetian training, which emphasized color and light over structure and mass.
Blue paper (carta azzurra) was also a large part of the Venetian tradition. Originally manufactured in Arabia, it was imported to Venice via the Orient and was favored by artists for its middle tone, which complemented the dark chalks and washes and white highlights.
On View
Not on viewFrame: 17 1/8 x 15 9/16 in. (43.5 x 39.5 cm)
Joachim Antonisz Wtewael
16th Century
