Standing Monk Holding a Book and Staff c. 1590

Bartolomeo Cesi made this drawing of a standing monk with red chalk sometime between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Chalk is a humble material, easily accessible and relatively inexpensive, which makes it ideal for preparatory sketches. However, the way Cesi coaxes volume and shadow from such an unassuming material is anything but commonplace. The strokes of red create a sense of depth, particularly in the folds of the monk’s habit. The texture of the chalk adds a soft, almost ethereal quality to the figure. Note, too, how the drawing emphasizes the dignity of labor; Cesi lavishes attention on the texture of the monk’s clothing, as though to ennoble the cloth itself. So, while this may seem like a simple sketch, it’s a study in the transformative power of materials. Cesi elevates the commonplace through his skill, reminding us that true artistry lies not just in the subject, but in the making.