Design for a Frontispiece with the Art of Painting and Drawing, Valerio Castello, c. 1650 - c. 1657
This is a design for a frontispiece, the illustration facing the title page of a book, in this case one about art. The allegorical female figures flanking the cartouche represent Painting on the left and Drawing on the right. The artist, Valerio Castello, came from a dynasty of artists. His fruitful career was cut short by his untimely death from the plague.