A Man Operating Cigoli's Drawing Apparatus

LODOVICO CARDI (IL CIGOLI)

Italian, 1559 – 1613

A Man Operating Cigoli's Drawing Apparatus, 1606 – 1613

Pen, brown ink, and brown wash over black chalk on white paper

Public domain

Gift of Manfred Brockhaus

2010.002

Known as il Cigoli in reference to his birthplace, Ludovico Cardi displays his knowledge of linear perspective and skill as a draftsman in his surviving work of theory, Prospettiva Practica. Here, he provides both a depiction and explanation of how this drawing apparatus is used to understand an object in linear perspective. He uses the labels letters A, B, C, D, E, and F to mark the lines of sight. This work exposes viewers to artists’ process by providing insight as to how they create an illusion of depth in their works when working in two dimensions.

Emma Capaldi '23

To view Cigoli's Drawing Apparatus in more detail, click here