Truth Illuminating Human Blindness

Volterrano (Baldassare Franceschini)

about 1650

Red chalk, heightened with white gouache, Chalk, Gouache

J. Paul Getty Museum

A reclining nude figure is depicted with drapery, while a second, ethereal figure hovers above, reaching towards the first. The drawing uses red chalk with white highlights. In this figure study, a lightly sketched female personification of Truth removes a veil from the eyes of an allegorical figure. Holding symbols of earthly greed-a scepter and crown-the reclining figure represents intellectual and spiritual Blindness. Volterrano showed his great command of the red chalk technique with the figure of Blindness, shaped by soft, richly applied strokes. With sensitivity and economy, he added luminous highlights of white lead. To develop the boundaries of her body and define her relationship to other elements, Volterrano relied on more than contour. For instance, he used the paper, touches of lead white, a