River God

Giulio Romano

1528

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance

About this work

This sketch shows a muscular, bearded man lying down with his head turned slightly. His body is tangled in flowing lines, like vines or water, wrapping around his arms and legs. The paper has a rough, textured look, and the ink is dark but uneven, with some areas faded. The artist used quick, loose strokes to suggest movement, almost like the figure is caught in a swirl. The messy edges make it feel more like a study than a finished drawing. Next, look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shading with layers of lines.