Death of Saint Joseph 1600 - 1700

This drawing, "Death of Saint Joseph," was made by an anonymous artist using pen and brown ink, with brush and brown wash, over a black chalk underdrawing. The grid of lines drawn across the composition is one of the most striking aspects of the drawing, revealing the artist's approach to the time-consuming process of transferring a preliminary sketch to a larger, final surface. The grid system allowed the artist to systematically enlarge the composition, square by square, ensuring that the proportions and relationships between elements were accurately maintained. The anonymous artist made this drawing on paper to visualize the narrative, meticulously building up layers of ink and wash to create tonal depth and three-dimensionality. The drawing also invites us to consider the value of the labor involved in the design of the artwork, reflecting a complex interplay of skill, tradition, and the economics of artistic production.