Two Female Figures Holding a Cornucopia
Drawing / Master Study on paper • Circle of Giorgio Vasari or Francesco Salviati (Mannerism)
Style & Movement
Mannerism (High Renaissance / Italian Maniera)
Medium & Technique
Pen and brown ink with wash, heightened with white gouache over traces of black chalk on prepared paper
Creation Period
circa 1540–1560
Dimensions & Format
Small-scale oval format (approximately 15–20 cm in diameter); tondo/oval composition.
Subject Description
Two allegorical female figures, possibly personifications of Plenty or Peace, clutching a large cornucopia filled with fruits and foliage. The figures exhibit the elongated proportions, serpentine poses (figura serpentinata), and muscular tension typical of 16th-century Florentine and Roman artists.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; significant aging and visible degradation of support and pigments.
Estimated Market Value
$8,000 - $15,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$6,000 - $10,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely part of a 16th or 17th-century collector’s album (e.g., Libro de' Disegni tradition). No specific previous sales recorded without further physical inspection of the verso.
Art Historical Significance
Representational of the refined draughtsmanship of the Second School of Fontainebleau or Central Italian Mannerism. It highlights the influence of Michelangelo’s muscular forms softened by the decorative elegance of Vasari’s circle.
Notable Features
The use of white heightening creates a strong sculptural relief effect. The oval format suggests this may have been a preparatory study for a ceiling fresco medallion or a decorative metalwork design (e.g., a shield or plate).
Condition Issues
Significant foxing, discoloration (yellowing) of the paper, minor foxing spots, oxidation of white heightening (turning greyish), and slight edge wear/chipping along the oval perimeter.
Conservation Recommendations
Requires de-acidification, stabilization by a paper conservator, and mounting with acid-free materials behind UV-protective museum glass. Avoid high humidity to prevent further mold/foxing.