San Esteban, Segovia 

Muirhead Bone made this drawing of San Esteban in Segovia with graphite on paper. The drawing appears to be rapidly made, its atmospheric qualities achieved through the physical application of the medium. Bone coaxes a full range of tones from the graphite, from the softest greys of the clouded sky to the solid blacks that give the composition definition. Look closely, and you can see the individual strokes, laid down with confidence. The apparent ease of Bone's marks shouldn't fool you. The artist was renowned for his draughtsmanship, and for his ability to distill the essence of a place with minimal means. It is this emphasis on the potential of process, along with Bone's virtuoso technique, that elevates this drawing beyond a mere depiction of a historical location, making it a compelling study of the dialogue between artist and material.