Left Third of a Martyrdom of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. 1508 - 1555

This drawing, now in the Metropolitan Museum, was made by Antonio da Trento sometime in the first half of the 16th century. He used pen and brown ink, with brush and brown wash, heightened with white gouache on paper. Da Trento's technique involved layering washes of brown ink to create depth and shadow, then adding highlights with white gouache. This method, popular at the time, was crucial to achieving the dramatic contrasts we see here. The use of paper as a support, while common, was also significant. Paper production was becoming increasingly industrialized, making it more accessible to artists. Think about the labor involved in creating such a detailed drawing, and its intended purpose. Was it a preparatory sketch for a larger painting, or a finished work in its own right? Either way, this work stands as a testament to the artist's skill, and the evolving relationship between artistic production and broader social and economic changes. Considering materials, making, and context helps us appreciate the full meaning of works like these, challenging the conventional boundaries between craft and fine art.