Seated Male Figure with Putto and Armor Gm-00003901

Paris Bordone (Italian (Venetian), 1500–1571) A young man dressed in Roman armor looks over his shoulder with his legs stretched out, one arm resting on his shield, the other holding a sword. Beside him putto plays with another suit of armor, a feathered helmet on his head, and a broad breastplate pushed upright in front of him.

Paris Bordone used quick strokes of black chalk to suggest the shapes and figures in the drawing. Simple lines delineate the man's eyes, nose, and armor, while zigzagging lines create the feathers on the putto's wings.

In this preparatory sketch, Bordone seems not to have decided whether the image should be rectangular, like the sheet of paper, or oval. The egg-shaped border appears to be somewhat of an afterthought, as it crowds the man's shield and feet.