The Four Evangelists

Italian 17th Century

1564

chalk

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Allegory

About this work

This sketch shows four winged men tangled in swirling clouds and wind. Their faces are blurry, but you can make out feathers, halos, and books in their hands. The lines are loose and fast, like someone scribbled ideas before they settled on a final version. The messy style suggests this might be a study—not a finished work. The artist used ink and chalk to layer details, building up shadows and textures. Look up cross-hatching next to see how artists use crisscrossed lines to create depth.