Bust of a Young Woman
ca. 1495
Piero di Cosimo was the Renaissance's ultimate eccentric—rumor has it he lived like a wild man and survived mostly on boiled eggs! In this delicate study from around 1495, he captures a young woman in a moment of quiet modesty, her eyes cast downward. The drawing features fine, scratchy lines and bright white highlights against a cool grey background, giving her veil and skin an ethereal glow. It’s a beautiful example of how Renaissance masters could create immense beauty even in a simple sketch.
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