Madonna with saints 

Gaspare Diziani made this drawing, Madonna with saints, sometime in the 18th century using pen and brush with grey ink and grey wash. It is rendered on paper, a relatively inexpensive and widely available material, which suggests its function was likely preparatory, a study for a larger work. Look closely, and you'll notice how the drawn lines vary in weight and intensity. Diziani has used the pen to create a delicate framework, mapping out the composition and defining the contours of figures like the Madonna and child. The brush and wash technique brings depth and shadow, particularly noticeable in the drapery folds and the ethereal clouds enveloping the holy figures. The layering of ink creates a sense of dynamism. The artist's labor, evident in the countless strokes and washes, gives the drawing a sense of liveliness. Diziani’s mastery of ink handling elevates this study to a work of considerable artistic merit. In it, we see an echo of the grand traditions of Venetian painting, tempered by a pragmatic approach to material and process.