Drapery Study (recto) c. 16th century

Girolamo Siciolante da Sermoneta made this drawing, Drapery Study, with red chalk on paper in Italy. Drawings like this offered artists a way to investigate and represent the world around them. Here, Siciolante studies the way fabric folds and drapes over the human form. In the 16th century, the Catholic Church was an important patron of the arts. Artists were commissioned to create works for churches and cathedrals. These depictions often presented idealized versions of biblical figures. Artists studied classical art and anatomy, in order to make their figures convincing. Drawings were not just preliminary studies; they were also commodities with a value of their own. Collectors sought them out, appreciating the skill and artistry involved in their creation. The survival of drawings like this allows us to examine the artist's process more closely. By studying letters, contracts, and workshop practices, we can gain further insights into the social context of artistic production during this period.