Spandrel Decoration with Two Putti n.d.

Carlo Maratti created this drawing, "Spandrel Decoration with Two Putti," using traditional drawing materials: pen and brown ink over graphite on laid paper. The material itself, paper, with its fibrous texture, provides a receptive ground for the artist's hand. You can almost feel the give of the paper as the graphite and ink leave their marks. Maratti’s careful strokes build form, light, and shadow. The pen lines define the contours of the putti, while graphite suggests the softness of their flesh. Drawings like these are critical to understand the labour involved in producing large-scale artworks. This drawing would have been a study for a larger work, and speaks to the time-honored tradition of skilled craftsmanship and artistry, and careful planning that goes into creating art. It is a reminder that even the most seemingly effortless artistic creations are the result of skill, practice, and a deep understanding of materials and techniques.