Two Friars on a Hillside [recto]

Fra Bartolommeo

1494

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Landscape

About this work

This sketch shows two small figures walking on a grassy hillside. Tall, leafless trees with twisted branches stand around them. The ground looks uneven, with patches of grass and a few bushes. The whole scene is drawn in simple brown ink, with no color. The artist used fine lines to build up shadows and texture, especially on the trees. This was a common way to add depth in Renaissance drawings. If you like this style, look up cross-hatching next.