1455
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Studies for Six Figures (sheet from a model book) [recto] is a 1455 ink by German 15th Century, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows three people in simple, flowing clothes. One sits on the ground, holding a staff. The other two stand nearby, one with hands folded, the other resting a hand on her hip. The lines are loose and quick, with lots of shading to show folds in the fabric. The drawing looks like practice—maybe for a bigger painting. The artist used ink and wash to build up shapes, testing how light hits cloth. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists use layers of lines like this.
This 15th-century German artist carved vivid religious scenes into metal and wood, then hand-painted them in bright, symbolic colors.
See the richer artist page
