Three Studies of Aeneas with a Boy
by DANIELE da Volterra, Black chalk, 151 x 211 mm
These drafts represent Daniele da Volterra’s earliest ideas for a painting depicting Aeneas taking off his clothes to lie with Dido when he is surprised by Mercury. The painting is lost but the composition is known from a copy. Michelangelo made preparatory drawings for the painting and provided them to his friend. Daniele elaborated the details or developed them further independently.
The present drawing depicts Aeneas with a boy in three different views. Here the artist was clarifying the motif of the boy helping the hero to remove his cloak. Daniele probably used a three-dimensional model for the group.