Bénitier in St. Peter's, Rome
1866
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1866
watercolor
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This black-and-white sketch shows a busy scene inside a grand building. A group of people—some standing, some sitting—watch as a man in a robe kneels beside a woman lying on the floor. Angels float above them, and the room has tall columns and arched doorways. The mood feels dramatic, with lots of movement and emotion. The artist used shading to make the figures stand out against the plain background. This style helps draw your eye to the action in the center. Look up chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and shadow like this.
