Saint Luke
1764
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1764
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This sketch shows a man lying on a bed, half-dressed with a sheet tangled around him. Above him, a winged figure—likely an angel—hovers, holding a scroll or book. The lines are loose and quick, with heavy shading to show folds in the fabric and the angel’s wings. The angel’s face is blurred, almost smudged, giving the scene a dreamy, unfinished feel. The artist used shading to create depth, focusing on the contrast between light and dark areas. Next, check out chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works in other art.
