Fragment of a Tapestry Cartoon: Outstretched Hand, Body of a Seraph, and a Wing
Original title: Fragment of a Tapestry Cartoon: Outstretched Hand, Body of a Seraph, and a Wing
kurzbeschreibung
A reaching hand, the body of a seraph and part of a wing appear on this fragment of a tapestry cartoon, attributed to Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi). It was made between 1500 and 1550. The sheet was worked in brush-applied yellow, pink, green, gray and white gouache over an underdrawing in black chalk.
Description
In the lower left corner of the fragment a hand reaches out, its fingers clearly set apart. The body of a seraph follows, enclosed by the structure of a wing. Yellow, pink, green and gray tones govern the coloring, while the seraph and wing stand out brighter and more vivid. Darker tones in the background sharpen the contrast with the light areas of hand and seraph.
Context
In his late years Raphael designed cartoons for tapestries intended for the Sistine Chapel. This fragment belongs among the studies and preparatory drawings that served the making of those tapestries. The dating 1500–1550 spans Raphael's activity up to his death in 1520 and includes the workshop production that followed.
Impact
The opposition between the dark background tones and the luminous colors of hand and seraph produces dramatic tension. The careful handling of the hand and the lively colors of the wing give the sheet an intense, almost visionary presence.
Technique
Gouache in yellow, pink, green, gray and white was applied with a brush on paper. Black chalk served as the underdrawing, fixing the basic structure of the arrangement. Brushstrokes and shading show the kind of preparation for tapestry weaving usual in cartoons.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)