Skeleton of a Starling
1620
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1620
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a bird skeleton perched on a branch. The bones are sketched in fine lines, with the wings folded and the head tilted slightly. Below, the branch holds a few leaves, and the whole scene is framed by a simple border. The artist focused on the bird’s structure, leaving out feathers and soft parts. This kind of precise drawing was used to study nature closely. Next, look up etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
