Man Sheathing a Sword 1600 - 1700

Francesco Montelatici, also known as Cecco Bravo, made this drawing of a man sheathing a sword with red chalk sometime in the mid-17th century. Chalk is an interesting material. On the one hand, it’s just a readily available stone. But when refined and prepared for drawing, it allows for a rich range of effects. Look closely and you can see how Bravo used the chalk to create both delicate outlines and more emphatic shadows, giving the figure a real sense of volume and movement. The process of drawing itself is also worth considering. Unlike painting, which can be layered and reworked, drawing demands a directness and immediacy. Bravo would have had to commit each line to paper with confidence, building up the image through careful observation and skillful execution. This kind of preparatory sketch was crucial for the large-scale paintings that made Bravo famous. So, in a way, this drawing is a glimpse behind the scenes, showing us the labor and skill that went into creating those grand Baroque masterpieces.