Venus en Adonis 1694 - 1766

This drawing, *Venus en Adonis* by Matthijs Balen, is a preparatory study for a larger painting depicting a scene from the myth of Venus and Adonis. The drawing is executed in brown ink and wash and is characteristic of the artist's style. Balen's use of line and shading helps to capture the emotion of the scene and the natural setting. The drawing's small size indicates that it is a preliminary sketch.