A lesser-known but equally fascinating aspect of Guercino's output is his drawings. Famous for his dramatic canvases and vivid frescoes, few know that the painter from Cento was actually a skilled and tireless draughtsman, a true master of the stroke, capable of infusing even the simplest sketches with life and movement.
Throughout his life, Guercino produced compositional studies, landscapes, caricatures and drawings, experimenting with various techniques. Pen and ink, charcoal, and red and black chalk were the means by which he created works on paper characterized by unparalleled precision and delicacy.
To fully appreciate Guercino's mastery, a trip to his homeland is a must. The Civica Pinacoteca il Guercino in Cento, for example, holds an extraordinary collection of his early works. Here, visitors can take a close look at drawings that reveal his extraordinary mastery of chiaroscuro, a technique the artist used to lend depth and drama to his subjects.
His drawings are also held in prestigious public and private collections in Italy and around the world, from the British Museum in London to the Morgan Library & Museum in New York, confirming Guercino as one of the greatest masters of Baroque art also on paper.
After receiving a commission, Guercino made numerous preparatory studies on single sheets, carefully devoting himself to the composition and development of the poses of the figures. These preliminary studies were often very distant from the final work, revealing how for Guercino drawing was above all a tool for reflection and artistic discovery.
When, on the other hand, they were not functional for a pictorial work, the drawings were transformed into an activity of pure enjoyment, to be shared with one's family, friends, and pupils.
Guercino was a true master of the stroke. His creative eagerness knew no bounds, neither in terms of inspiration nor technique. One of his most distinctive qualities was his ability to capture movement, resulting in animated and realistic figures. This ability is particularly evident in his sketches of human and animal anatomy, where every line seems to vibrate with dynamism.
Many of the themes that characterized his pictorial output can be found in his drawings: religious and mythological scenes, portraits and landscapes. However, it is precisely in the drawings that his predilection for intimate, everyday subjects, such as portraits of family and friends or scenes of rural life, particularly emerges.
Each of Guercino's drawings thus becomes a small masterpiece that tells a story, expresses an emotion or an idea, all pervaded by a deep humanity, evident in his attention to detail and ability to capture the essence of things.
DISCOVERING GUERCINO. DOWNLOAD THE MAP!
An itinerary through Guercino's Baroque art, among art cities, churches and palaces, museums and private collections
- Civica Pinacoteca il Guercino (Cento, FE): www.civicapinacotecailguercino.it
- Le vie del Guercino (Bologna): www.bolognawelcome.com/it/informazioni/guercino
- Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna: www.pinacotecabologna.beniculturali.it
