The Virgin and Infant Jesus with Saints
1600
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1600
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a group of figures in a loose, flowing style. The main woman holds a child, while others cluster around them. Their faces are simple but expressive, and the background is filled with quick, tangled lines that look like trees or fabric. The artist used brown ink and wash to create depth without heavy shading. The lines feel both rough and controlled, like a quick study rather than a finished work. Next, check out cross-hatching to see how artists build texture with lines.
