The Ashmolean's renowned Italian drawings collection features creative sketches by Leonardo da Vinci and brainstorming studies 200 years later from the Baroque artist Carlo Maratti, together with richly-handled works by Guercino and Giambattista Tiepolo.
Our latest Italian Drawings Online Catalogue brings these together, with detailed content on 2,350 drawings dating from the 1430s to the 1950s. This catalogue is a result of a recently completed research project. The research did not include the Ashmolean’s Raphael and Michelangelo drawings, which feature in separate projects. (See links on the right/below.)
Amongst the recent Italian drawings discoveries, we identified various artists responsible for previously puzzling drawings, such as an agile study of two soldiers which is by the influential Bolognese artist, Agostino Carracci.
We found some unknown drawings, hidden when glued onto mounts, including rare sketches by the Neapolitan artist Bernardo Cavallino. Explore the catalogue and you'll find stories from poetry, history and religion, as well as breezy landscape drawings and playful caricatures. Our descriptions and drawing details aim to provide new insights and information. Enjoy this selection of highlights.
