Old Master Drawings

The upcoming Old Master Drawings auction offered by Sotheby’s includes an array of works on paper from many of the European schools, spanning from the 15th to the mid-19th century. The auction particularly emphasizes the revival of Italian artworks. Among the highlights of the sale is a recently rediscovered full compositional study by Andrea Mantegna for his painting titled The Triumph of Alexandria. Born in 1431, Mantegna is best known for his rigorous attention to detail.

The sale also includes a work in red chalk by Giuseppe Cesari. He was an Italian artist widely remembered for his coordination of major decorative projects in Rome, including the Olgiati chapel in Santa Prassede. Cesari favored the use of red or black chalk or a combination of the two in his paper works. His drawings mainly contrasted light and shade, achieved through parallel and crosshatched chalk strokes. The auction also holds an oil-on-paper study of a young girl by Annibale Carracci. He stands out among Italian Renaissance artists for his ability to convey the emotions of the subject. Register to bid and view each lot by visiting Sotheby’s.