A Performance by the Commedia dell'Arte
1710
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1710
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows five figures on a stage, dressed in loose, flowing clothes. One person holds a spear, another plays a drum, and a third looks like they’re dancing. In the front, a small figure sits on the ground, holding a mask. The background has tall columns and a curtain, drawn in quick, sketchy lines. The drawing looks like a rough study, not a finished painting. The artist used ink and wash to show movement and emotion in just a few strokes. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shading with layered lines.
![The Adoration of the Magi [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/2cfd5d76b55e821e/thumb.webp)
![Joseph and His Brother in Egypt [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/86cfb4fbb2662a76/thumb.webp)
