Nicolò dell' Abate

A typical example of Nicolò dell' Abate's graphic style, the present sheet is compositionally reminiscent of a red chalk study of two putti, at Chatsworth, which was identified by Sylvie Béguin as a preparatory study for one of the groups of putti dividing the various scenes from the Life of Camilla, frescoed by Nicolò in a room in the Palazzo Poggi, Bologna (circa 1550).¹

^The plumed helmet held by the putto to the left of the present composition and the standards to the right are symbols of war, an appropriate subject for such a room, though the decorations as executed are in fact not so elaborate and include a smaller number of putti. Furthermore, the style of the drawing appears to be more mature than one would expect at this time, so this study may actually relate to a different project, from later in the artist's career.

^1. S. M. Béguin, Nicolò dell' Abate, exhib. cat., Bologna, Palazzo dell' Archiginnasio, 1969, pp. 105-106, cat. no. 47, reproduced fig. 47; M. Jaffé, The Devonshire Collection of Italian Drawings, Bolognese and Emilian Schools p. 36, cat. 433, reproduced p. 37