Gaspare Gambi – Hermes Tying His Sandal – Signed Charcoal Drawing, 1907

Rare charcoal drawing on paper, signed and dated 1907 by Gaspare Gambi (Ravenna, 1889 – 1968), depicting Hermes tying his sandal, an iconic pose from classical sculpture. The motif originates from a renowned Greek sculptural type, traditionally attributed to Lysippos, of which several Roman copies survive today (notably in the Copenhagen Glyptotek and the Capitoline Museums in Rome).

Created at just 18 years of age, this piece reveals Gambi’s early academic talent. The finely modeled figure, controlled chiaroscuro, and classical proportions echo the rigour of neoclassical drawing schools.

Signed lower right, presented in a wooden frame with glass. A rare and refined study for collectors of Greco-Roman and academic art.

Artist's Biography

Gaspare Gambi (Ravenna, July 26, 1889 – Ravenna, 1968) was an Italian draftsman, engraver, and art teacher. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Ravenna and later at the Scuola d’Arte Applicata all’Industria in Florence, where he qualified to teach drawing in secondary schools.

His passion for engraving began in the studio of painter and printmaker Vittorio Guaccimanni. Gambi was especially devoted to depicting the monumental heritage of Ravenna and participated in many national and international exhibitions, including the II Quadriennale in Rome (1935), the XXI Venice Biennale (1938), and the Landscape Exhibition in Bologna (1934). His work is noted for its academic rigor and deep reverence for the masters of the Renaissance.