An Elaborate Altar with the Resurrection of Christ and the Martyrdom of Saint Andrew
1575
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1575
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This drawing shows a tall, detailed altar design. The top half has three arched scenes with figures in robes, surrounded by decorative scrolls and small faces peeking from clouds. Below, two standing figures hold up a draped cloth over a central scene of a risen figure with outstretched arms. The sides have carved columns, garlands, and more figures in niches, all outlined in precise lines. The artist used a mix of light and dark ink to create depth, with some areas left almost blank to show highlights. Notice how the figures’ faces are simple but expressive, and the architecture looks like real stonework. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with lines.
