The Adventus of Hadrian (Marcus Aurelius) c. 17th century

Pietro da Cortona made this drawing, The Adventus of Hadrian, using pen and brown ink with brown wash on paper. This was a traditional medium for preparatory sketches, allowing artists to work through ideas before committing to a larger painting or fresco. The brown wash is particularly effective here, giving depth and volume to the figures. Notice how Cortona uses layers of wash to create shadows and highlights, really making the figures stand out from the background. The process of drawing itself would have been labor-intensive, requiring skill and precision to achieve such detail. This kind of draftsmanship was highly valued at the time, reflecting the artist's training and mastery of his craft. Looking closely, you can see Cortona's confident lines and the way he captures the textures of the fabrics and the expressions on the faces. It is through the careful application of ink and wash that Cortona brings this historical moment to life, reminding us of the artistry involved in even a seemingly simple drawing.