Birds in Flight [verso] 

Girolamo Mazzola Bedoli made this study of birds in flight, sometime in the mid-16th century, with pen and brown ink on laid paper. The immediacy of the medium allowed Bedoli to capture the birds’ dynamic poses, and the permeable paper has absorbed the ink, creating soft edges. In Renaissance workshops, drawing was fundamental. It was a tool to develop ideas and translate them into paintings or sculptures, as well as a means of understanding nature. These sketches weren't considered artworks in themselves; they were functional tools for the production of other art. Yet the drawings have an appeal of their own. The artist's hand is visible in the quick, confident lines, and we can appreciate the artist's skill in capturing the essence of movement. By looking closely at the materials and processes, we recognize the value of drawings like this, bridging the gap between 'preparatory study' and 'finished work'.