Study sheet with galloping horse, a woman in profile looking left, a group of figures on clouds and an angel

About the Work

To an even greater degree than in inv. no. 4241 Z, the studies seen here are independent sketches rather than preparatory works for specific compositions. Palma captured the three groups with sparse, rapid, short strokes. He did not make use of the entire surface of the sheet, but left certain sections blank. This manner of proceeding enhances the spatial character of the surface, literally gives the figures space. Here the objectives of the independent sheet of sketches seem to have reached a new level of sophistication.