Agostino Carracci

This bold and vivid study of two heads in profile not only demonstrates Agostino's artistic dexterity but also embodies the ethos of the three Carracci, so passionate both in their observation of everyday life and in their emphasis on the vital role of drawing in achieving their aims. Also very typical is the dialogue, so evident in this appealing sheet, between references to Antique sculptural motifs and the spontaneous capturing of contemporary life. 

The features of the female head in profile, especially the nose and eye, are reminiscent of the classical head studies depicted on the right of a sheet of studies at Windsor.¹  The bearded man seen here is, on the other hand, most probably drawn from a contemporary model rather than a classical prototype.

Another intriguing aspect to this study are the framing lines around the two heads, which often, in other drawings, signify a finished or complete work. These two heads, however, were probably part of a larger sheet of studies; see for example a sheet of studies at Windsor demonstrating how the artist would sketch heads, figures, trees and other motifs as part of a drawing exercise.² Perhaps Agostino chose to highlight or isolate these heads by inserting framing lines around them. The inclusion of the decorative floral element surrounding the framing line, upper right, further enhances the aesthetic appeal of this striking drawing.

1. R. Wittkower, The Drawings of The Carracci in the Collection of Her Majesty The Queen At Windsor Castle, London 1952, cat. no. 152, fig. 20

2. Ibid., cat. no. 131, fig. 31