The Adoration of the Magi n.d.

Giulio Benso made this drawing, ‘The Adoration of the Magi’, using pen and brown ink with brown wash over graphite. It's on two sheets of paper, joined. Benso clearly wanted to create a strong sense of depth and atmosphere, and the layered washes of ink would have been essential to achieving that. The controlled application of these washes demanded skill and patience from the artist. Notice how Benso uses the texture of the paper to his advantage. The ink settles into the fibers, creating subtle variations in tone and adding to the drawing’s overall richness. Although this is a religious scene, the artist’s focus is on the act of creation. He invites us to appreciate the time and effort involved in bringing such a vision to life. The drawing is a testament to the enduring power of traditional techniques in the hands of a skilled artist. It shows how, even with humble materials, great artistic feats can be achieved.