Giuseppe Cesari, called Cavaliere d’Arpino

Satyrs are bawdy mythological creatures, part human and part animal. In creating this vivid but imaginary likeness, Cesari handled the red chalk much like a pen while also exploiting its distinctive characteristics. Starting with light, powdery outlines, such as those around the head, the artist built up volume and shading with sharp hatching and crosshatching. He then blended the chalk around the eyes to create an even tone, adding saturated accents such as the nostrils by wetting the tip of the chalk.