Preparation for Sacrifice 1611 - 1674

Leonaert Bramer’s *Preparation for Sacrifice* is a preparatory drawing for a later painting, likely depicting a scene from Roman mythology. Executed in black chalk on paper, this work features a group of figures, likely priestesses or worshippers, gathered around a central altar, with a towering column framing the scene. The figures are depicted in a classical style, their bodies rendered with anatomical precision and their drapery flowing naturally. Bramer’s use of light and shadow gives the figures a sense of three-dimensionality, creating a sense of depth and realism. *Preparation for Sacrifice* is a testament to Bramer's skill as a draftsman and his mastery of the classical style.