Saint John Preaching
1578
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1578
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a chaotic crowd of people in a tangle of arms and legs. Some are standing, others are sprawled on the ground, and a few are reaching upward as if in prayer or panic. The figures are drawn in quick, sketchy lines with dark ink, and some areas are lightly washed with brown. One person in the front holds a small child, while others wear hats or draped clothes. The artist used a mix of dark and light strokes to create depth, with white highlights on faces and hands. This drawing looks like a study for a bigger work, full of movement and emotion. Check out how the artist used gouache to add those bright white touches.
