Italian, 17th Century, Head of a Boy with Curly Hair

An inscription on the reverse of the paper reads "viene dal Caracci / No 43" (comes from Carracci), and includes the dates of Ludovico Carracci (1555-1619), suggesting a historical connection to the influential Bolognese school of painting.

This charming study is a counterproof of a red chalk drawing, depicting the head of a young boy with a mass of tightly curled hair, his face turned downwards. As a counterproof, the lines are soft and slightly blurred, conveying the artist's spontaneous and confident hand. The drawing style, with its focus on capturing form and texture through expressive lines, is a fine example of the vigorous draftsmanship of the period.
Counterproof of a red chalk drawing on paper. 14.5 x 13.2 cm