1637
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Martyrdom of Saint Andrew is a 1637 ink by Stefano Della Bella, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a chaotic scene with a group of people gathered around a central figure on an X-shaped cross. The drawing is loose and quick, with lots of movement—some people appear to be fleeing or reacting in shock. The lines are simple, almost like a hurried sketch, and the whole thing looks like it was done with just pen and ink. Notice how the artist used quick, overlapping strokes to show fabric and motion. The background is barely there, keeping all the focus on the main action. Want to see more of this style? Look up Baroque.
Stefano della Bella (18 May 1610 – 12 July 1664) was an Italian draughtsman and printmaker known for etchings of a great variety of subjects, including military and court scenes, landscapes, and lively genre scenes.
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