As paper was still relatively expensive and rare in 16th century Italy, artists such as Federico Barocci often used both sides of the paper for their compositions. Art historians use the term recto to refer to the front of the sheet, and verso to refer to the back of the paper.
CAPTIONS
Recto
Compositional study
black and red chalk and charcoal with peach and yellow pastel,
highlighted with white on faded blue paper, 14 1/8 x 10 in.
Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe degli Uffizi, Polo Museale Fiorentino
Photo: Scala / Ministero per i Beni e le Attività culturali / Art Resource, NY
Verso
Study for the head of Gabriel
Recto
Compositional study
black and red chalk and charcoal with peach and yellow pastel,
highlighted with white on faded blue paper, 14 1/8 x 10 in.
Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe degli Uffizi, Polo Museale Fiorentino
Photo: Scala / Ministero per i Beni e le Attività culturali / Art Resource, NY
Verso
Study for the head of Gabriel
