Home Online catalogues Studi & Schizzi 9. Federico Zuccari Sant’Angelo in Vado circa 1540 – 1609 Ancona Two Studies of a Head: Vincenzo Borghini, circa 1575-1579 Unlike more formal official portraits, these two studies from life are strongly naturalistic. Having observed his model closely, Federico Zuccari drew Vincenzo Borghini’s features faithfully and with a firm hand: the high, balding forehead with its wrinkles, the throbbing vein on his temple, his asymmetrical eyes, high cheekbones and luxuriant beard. On the death of Giorgio Vasari, Zuccari was selected to finish the grand decoration of the cupola of the Duomo in Florence (1575-79). The iconographic programme of the dome had been designed by Borghini at the request of the Medici. A painting showing this eminent Florentine scholar and Zuccari, talking beside a model of the cathedral (Palazzo Zuccari, Rome) commemorates the preparation of this important commission and bears witness – as does our drawing – to the relationship between the two men.
Unlike more formal official portraits, these two studies from life are strongly naturalistic. Having observed his model closely, Federico Zuccari drew Vincenzo Borghini’s features faithfully and with a firm hand: the high, balding forehead with its wrinkles, the throbbing vein on his temple, his asymmetrical eyes, high cheekbones and luxuriant beard. On the death of Giorgio Vasari, Zuccari was selected to finish the grand decoration of the cupola of the Duomo in Florence (1575-79). The iconographic programme of the dome had been designed by Borghini at the request of the Medici. A painting showing this eminent Florentine scholar and Zuccari, talking beside a model of the cathedral (Palazzo Zuccari, Rome) commemorates the preparation of this important commission and bears witness – as does our drawing – to the relationship between the two men.