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Draped Figure with a Staff

Cherubino Alberti

1584

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

Dominant colour

Draped Figure with a Staff is a 1584 ink by Cherubino Alberti, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Cherubino Alberti
When & what style?: 1584 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows two figures in quick, rough lines. One stands fully dressed in a long robe, holding a staff and looking down. The other is a faint, ghostly outline behind them, barely there. The paper is light, almost yellowed, and the ink is dark and scratchy. The artist used a mix of ink and chalk to create shadows and texture, making the figures feel solid yet sketchy. The main figure’s robe is drawn with quick strokes, giving it a sense of movement. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.