Evening star., 1960-10-16


drawn from II museum and
cities. Here we can see
them all in one place. ad-
mirably displayed and well
lighted, in an hour or so,
instead of weeks of travel.
Nor is this any random
selection. The exhibition
was organized by DR.. Giulia
Sinibaldi, director of the
print room Of Florence's
Ufizi Gallery, and an au-
thoritv on the subject, to
provide a survey of master
drawings from the 14th to
the 18th centuries. They are
arranged chronologically. be-
ginning with the Giotto-
Influenced Visitation" 14th
century, one of the oldest
drawings to have survived.
ct once belonged to Giorgio
Vasari, author of the famous
Lives" himself represented
in the exhibition0 The sur
vey ends with a humorous
drawing of a Bohemian type
by Felice Giani, done in the
early 10th century.
Drawings Uninhibited
Drawings have a charm all
their own, being the most
personal, spontaneous, un-
inhibited expressions of an
artist. Since the 18th Gen.
tury, when collecting draw
ings became a fad, some
drawings have been made to
take advantage of such de-
mand. But the original pur-
poses Of such drawings as
these by Italian masters, were
exercise, study, memoranda,
fresh impressions and pre-
liminary steps for paintings.
There is infinite variety in
technique, and considerable
variety in materials used.
Visitors interested in more
than q cursory glance at the
show, should obtain the il
Illustrated catalogue ($1.76
by DR.. Sinibaldi. In her
scholarly introduction, she
discusses the hazards to
existence of old drawings.
making certain lacunae in
the show inevitable; and the
techniques of some masters,
illustrated in specific works,
including Antonio Pollaiu-
olo's Baptist" reproduced
here last Sunday. Her ex-
tenSive catalogue notes on
each drawing, its history,
character and quality. and
biographical data on each
master, make the book an
item Of permanent value.
Great Masters
In view Of the great and
best known masters repre-
sented in this exhibition,
gaps will be noticed by few
but scholars. Among the IS
names, are Paolo Uccello,
Benozzo Gozzoli. Domenico
Ghirlandaio, Botticelli. Lo-
renzo di Credi, Perugino,
Giovanni Bellini, da Vinci,
Michelangelo, Raphael, del
Sarto, Pontormo. Correggio,
Parmigianino. Titan, Tin
toretto. Bernini, Tiepolo.
Guard, Canaletto and
Canova.
The grace, elegance and
beauty of figures in Renais-
sance paintings are reflected
in these drawings. e.g., Botti-
celli's Angel" Ghirlandaio'S
"Annunciation," Perugino's
"Sybil," Raphael's Study
for an Altarpiece," Piazetta's
Head of q Boy with a
Book; strength and power
in Michelangelo's "Cloaked
Male Figure" del Sarto's
Profile of a Man." Tinto-
retto's Archer" and many
others.
Rare Privilege
God and man. angels and
saints provide almost ex-
elusive inspiration for these
old masters until the late
18th and 18th centuries, with
such isolated exceptions as
Giulio Campagnola's land
scapes (early 18th century,
But Ricci. Guard, yucca
reli, Canaletto, Pannini.
enable us to look straight
into the 18th century. with
their landscapes, village
scenes and ruins.
To see an exhibition OF
this caliber is a rare privilege
and one which the Washing
ton public appreciates, to
Judge from the crowds which
studied the drawings on the
onoVoin0 dou