(Naples 1610–1675)
Five studies of heads and studies of two figures, standing and one seated, pen and brown ink, on laid paper, 18,4 x 21,5 cm, mounted, unframed, (Sch)

Provenance:
Collection Giancarlo Sestieri, Rome.

Exhibited:
Lumezzane Pieve, Torre Avogadro, Disegni italiani dal XV al XX secolo. Mostra antologica da collezioni private, 31st March – 22nd April 2001.

Literature:
G. Sestieri, B. Daprà, Domenico Gargiulo detto Micco Spadaro. Paesaggista e “cronista” napoletano, Rome 1994, S. 374, Cat. D23; G. Sestieri (Ed.), Disegni italiani dal XV al XX secolo. Mostra antologica da collezioni private, Exh. Cat. Lumezzane Pieve 2001, Cat. 15, Pl. 7.

The present drawing is the only known sketch with head studies by Domenico Gargiulo. The sheet is stylistically comparable with a sketch representing three male heads on the reverse of a figure study in the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York (Inv. N.17.236.39). The execution of the present drawing is more precise. Its assured and yet immediate style and the parallel hatchings are typical for the late work of the artist. Except for the figure without a beard near the upper left margin, the other four heads whose faces appear in an almost caricaturelike exaggerated manner may have belonged to the same model.