Domenico Maria Canuti (Bologna 1625 – 1684)

A large and rare sheet by the brilliant Bolognese draftsman Domenico Maria Canuti, this powerful red chalk study of a seated satyr exemplifies the elegance and vitality of the Italian Seicento at its finest.

Trained under Guido Reni and active in both Bologna and Rome, Canuti was one of the great decorative painters of his generation. He worked on major fresco cycles for the Colonna and Altieri families, and his drawn œuvre—rich, dynamic, and highly accomplished—remains relatively underappreciated today. This drawing reflects his mature style: fluid contours, subtle shading, and masterful use of sfumato to build the satyr’s muscular back and coarse fur with nuance and depth.

Likely conceived as a preparatory study for a mythological ceiling or frieze, this sheet echoes the Carracci tradition and the monumental visual language of the Farnese Gallery, filtered through Canuti’s own baroque sensitivity.

The drawing survives in remarkable condition, with a crisp, vibrant surface and generous dimensions. It stands as a rare witness to Canuti’s talent and the enduring vitality of Bolognese classicism in the late seventeenth century.