1592
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
A Soldier on Horseback and Other Studies is a 1592 ink by Antonio Tempesta, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a soldier in heavy armor, pointing forward with one hand while gripping a shield with the other. Behind him, a horse and rider are drawn quickly, almost like a ghostly afterthought. The paper looks old and worn, with faint red chalk marks scattered around the edges. The artist used thin, repeated lines to build up shadows and texture, especially on the armor and horse. This method makes the drawing look both rough and precise at the same time. Try looking up cross-hatching to see how this technique works in other drawings.
Antonio Tempesta, also called il Tempestino (1555 – 5 August 1630), was an Italian painter and engraver, whose art acted as a point of connection between Baroque Rome and the culture of Antwerp.
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