Crucifixion with the Two Thieves

pen and brown ink and black chalkUnknown Artist/1450–1500

Description

To make this drawing—which could be a ricordi (a visual record of a painting)—the artist first sketched part of the composition with charcoal before completing it with pen and ink. Charcoal was not regularly used as a drawing medium until the second half of the 1400s. Even then, it was usually a secondary medium, as seen here, meant to sketch or outline figures to be completed in other media. Charcoal and black chalk became more popular with later generations of artists, including Michelangelo, who found the supple qualities of the media ideal for rendering the human figure.

Provenance

The drawing is acquired by Antonio II Badile (c.1424-c.1511); The drawing is included in an album of drawings compiled from Antionio II Badile’s collection, likely by one or both of his sons, Bartolomeo III Badile(1464/67-1545) or Francesco II Badile(1476/77-1544).; The drawing is in the collection of Lodovico Moscardo as part of the Badile Album.; The drawing enters the collection of the Miniscalchi family as part of the Badile Album upon the marriage of Teresa Moscardo and Marcantonio Miniscalchi.; The drawing is purchased by an unknown collector after Mario Miniscalchi-Erizzo begins to sell drawings from the Moscardo collection, including the Badile Album.; The drawing is purchased, along with the rest of the Badile Album, by Francis Matthiesen, who dismantles the album and begins selling individual drawings.; The drawing is purchased by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Dimensions

24.4 × 19.4 cm

Source

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Movement / Period

Drawings

Accession No

1956.43

Official Citations

[The Cleveland Museum of Art Official Record][Full Resolution Image]

Curatorial Affinity Stream

Continuing the Universe of Unknown Artist

Drawings • Italy, Piedmont • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries

Continuous Discovery