Two niches with standing figures of Sts Agatha and Margaret being crowned by putti 1652 - 1726

This delicate drawing was made by Giacomo del Pò, likely in Italy, using graphite or black chalk on paper. Look closely and you will see the figures of Saint Agatha and Saint Margaret. They're being crowned by cherubic putti in separate niches. The drawing's appeal is its raw, sketch-like quality. You can almost sense the artist's hand moving across the page. The material, humble paper, allows for an immediacy that heavier, more formal media wouldn't. The weave of the paper influences the texture of the drawing itself. The strokes of graphite create a range of tonal values, from light wisps to dense shadows, all dependent on the pressure applied. The technique is rooted in the skilled traditions of academic drawing, but it also hints at a looser, more experimental approach. It represents countless hours of practice and a deep understanding of form and anatomy. This intimate study exemplifies how process and material intertwine, blurring any rigid boundary between fine art and craft.