/internal/media/dispatcher/13959/fullFAS/D/771Virgin and Child with Young St John the BaptistArt / Drawings17th century1650-169516501695Andrea AndreaniAndrea AndreaniAlessandro Casolani This drawing is a 17th-century copy after a chiaroscuro woodcut by Andrea Andreani after Alessandro Casolani which was made in 1591. It appears to be a training exercise as it is almost a traced copy of the woodcut with black pen lines matching the line block, but freehand brown washes that reproduce the effect of the two tone blocks, and chalk to mimic the blank paper used by Casolani to create highlights. It may have been made as a study in creating tonal effects using ink washes and white chalk, by copying the light-dark (chiaroscuro) effects in the print. The foolscap watermark of the laid paper points towards a Dutch paper mill of the mid to late 17th century (see Haewood watermark no. 2045), although similar watermarks have also been found in England.Collector's Mark: 'JWH' (Lugt L.1555c), unidentified, 18th century
Purchased for the Museum in 196029.3 x 20.2 cm (Support)MUŻAReserve Collection32139-4052759HMZA 001220DrawingM.A.R. (1960), p.12Heritage Malta1246Pen and brown ink with white chalk heightening on brown prepared laid paper with foolscap watermarkDrawing