Venus and Adonis 1778

François André Vincent made this drawing of Venus and Adonis with graphite on paper. Graphite, that soft, crystalline form of carbon, is a humble material with great potential, as this study eloquently shows. The artist skillfully manipulated the pencil to create varied tones and textures, using delicate hatching to model the figures and bolder strokes to define the landscape. Notice how the density of the graphite creates depth and shadow, giving the composition a sense of weight and volume. Drawings like this were vital to academic artistic practice of the 18th century. They were a proving ground, a way of demonstrating mastery. The relatively modest means, though, allowed for freedom and experiment. In that way, the drawing carries an energy that you don't always see in the finished painting. The immediacy of the graphite line enables an intimacy with the artist’s process, inviting us to appreciate the labor and skill involved in bringing such scenes to life.