Ignis
1586
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1586
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Ignis is a 1586 ink by Hendrik Goltzius, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a muscular, bare-chested man mid-stride, one arm raised as if holding a torch or staff. His hair is wild, and his legs are strong, stepping over a sleeping dog. In the background, a tree and some faint, rough lines suggest a rocky landscape or ruins. The artist used tiny pinpricks all over the figure to mark details before inking, a method that makes the lines look precise but also slightly sketchy. The red chalk underneath gives the drawing a warm, earthy tone. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with layered lines.
