1589
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Madonna Enthroned with Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist is a 1589 ink by Hans von Aachen, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a group of figures gathered around a seated woman holding a child. Behind them is a castle-like wall with battlements. The people look serious, dressed in flowing robes and simple clothes. One child stands nearby, another kneels, and a third leans on a staff. The artist used ink and a light brown wash, then added white highlights to make the figures pop. The lines are precise but the scene feels soft, like a sketch that’s been polished. Next, look up gouache to see how this technique works.
Hans von Aachen (1552 – 4 March 1615) was a German painter who was one of the leading representatives of Northern Mannerism.
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