24 JACOPO LIGOZZI Italian, circa 1547­1627 Soldier with Cheetah Brush, pen and brown ink, bodycolor, and painted gold 28.1 x 22.3 cm (11 1/16 x 8 3/4 in.) Cat. Ill, no. 24; 91.GG.53 Inscribed by the artist top left: AZAPPI/ Sonno gli Soldati de Galera (Azaps/They are the galley soldiers); and lower right: Leopardo. The term azappo comes from the Turkish word azap (marine), which helps to clarify the following phrase. These archers were seafaring soldiers employed on Turkish galleys or longboats. This is one of a series of drawings, the majority of which are in the Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, done with the brush in brightly colored bodycolor; they show Turks, mostly accompanied by exotic animals, as in this example. The purpose of the drawings is unknown, but they were evidently inspired by the engraved illustrations in the book Le navigationi et viaggi nella Turchia, 1580, by Nicolas de' Nicolai. The precise, miniaturist style is typical of Ligozzi's work; it was well suited to the commission on which he was employed by Francesco I de' Medici, which included detailed drawings of the Medici zoological and botanical collections. Ligozzi was employed as painter to the grand­ducal court in Florence as well as designer of tapestries and glass engravings and superintendent of the picture gallery. He also painted on a large scale and completed paintings for the Palazzo Vecchio as well as altarpieces for churches in Florence and elsewhere. His colored drawings must rank among his finest work. ITALIAN SCHOOL 31