Anonymous
(Lombardy or Emilia, 16th Century)
Woman Praying
Pen, watercolor
Dimensions: 145 x 160 mm
In this sheet, the artist captures an intimate moment of a woman: she is kneeling on a kneeler constructed with clean and precise lines, of simple and austere workmanship. Perhaps it is an Annunciate Virgin. The full figure, captured facing right while raising her gaze from the prayer book she holds in her left hand, is rather imposing, suggesting a knowledge of Michelangelo's models in the Sistine Chapel. The woman seems to be conversing with someone in front of her; her right hand has her index finger raised, a gesture that underlines the importance of what she is saying. A draped garment, in a classic style, falls softly from her head to her feet, enveloping the figure. The use of a gray watercolor in two shades defines the volumes, the shadows, and structures the forms. Note the detail of the right foot constructed entirely with watercolor. The technique and style bring to mind the models of an artist such as Pellegrino Tibaldi (Puria 1527-Milan 1596), for example, but this work shows a more composed, balanced hand, less inclined to the refined pose, to the Mannerist boldness. At the bottom of the sheet, one seems to read 'Barbieri' in old handwriting, however, the proposal of the name of Giovanni Francesco Barbieri, nicknamed 'Guercino' (Cento 1591 – Bologna 1666), seems entirely to be discarded.
The artwork is in a good state of preservation. A missing piece at the top center and along the lower margin, integrated in ancient times to remove a script on the verso. The sheet is preserved in the typical mounting of the Carlo Prayer collection (Milan 1826-1900). At the bottom, two collection stamps: L.2011 Pacini (Florence, late 19th century, likely a dealer in prints and drawings) and Carlo Prayer (Milan, 1826-1900) L.2044.