Design for a ewer with nude figures and serpents
1550
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1550
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This drawing shows a tall, ornate vase with two handles and a spout. Curling vines and swirling leaves cover its sides, and a small figure stands on top, holding a shell. A snake winds around the vase, its tail looping near the base, while another figure floats above, half-hidden by clouds. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to suggest depth and movement in the details. The figures and vines look like they’re part of a larger decorative pattern, almost like a design for real pottery. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shading with lines.
