Allegory of Abundance with Two Figures
Drawing on paper, circular tondo format • Attributed to the Circle of Pellegrinos Tibaldi or the Zuccari brothers (Taddeo or Federico)
Style & Movement
Late Mannerism (Cinquecento)
Medium & Technique
Red chalk (sanguine), pen and ink wash with white gouache (biacca) heightening on laid paper
Creation Period
Late 16th Century (c. 1560-1590)
Dimensions & Format
Estimated 15-20 cm diameter; Circular (Tondo)
Subject Description
The drawing depicts two muscular allegorical figures. The primary figure on the left holds a cornucopia (horn of plenty) filled with fruit and flowers, symbolic of Abundance or Ceres. The figures exhibit the 'maniera' style of elongated limbs and exaggerated musculature, influenced by the late work of Michelangelo.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair to Good; shows typical signs of aging for a 16th-century work on paper including localized foxing and perimeter wear.
Estimated Market Value
$4,000 - $7,000 USD (subject to authentication)
Auction Estimate
$3,000 - $5,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely from a 17th or 18th-century European collector's album; the tondo cut suggests it may have been removed from a larger sheet of studies or a preparatory sketchbook.
Art Historical Significance
Representative of the late Italian Mannerist school's obsession with anatomy and complex composition. It demonstrates the 'double contour' technique used by artists to refine muscular expression before finalizing a painting or fresco.
Notable Features
Distinguished by the 'double contour' musculature mentioned by the owner, a hallmark of anatomical studies; beautiful use of white heightening to create volume and three-dimensionality (chiaroscuro).
Condition Issues
Visible foxing (brown spots), minor creases, slight yellowing of the paper, and a small tear or 'nick' on the upper right edge. Some fading of the white heightening due to oxidation.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional cleaning by a paper conservator to stabilize foxing; mounting using acid-free materials and framing behind UV-protective museum glass. Avoid direct sunlight.
Collector Notes
Double contour musculature