Saint John, from Henry the Seventh's Chapel Westminster Abbey
1829
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1829
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a tall, robed figure holding a small bird in one hand while pointing upward with the other. The person’s face is smooth and calm, with soft waves in their hair. They stand inside a simple frame, like a window or niche, with a dark background behind them. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to show folds in the cloth and the bird’s feathers. This style makes the drawing feel lively, even though it’s just pencil on paper. Next, check out how this was made using lithography.
