Der Erzengel Michael stürzt die rebellischen Engel 

Guido Reni rendered this preparatory sketch, Der Erzengel Michael stürzt die rebellischen Engel, with red chalk. The immediacy afforded by this material allowed him to rapidly develop the composition. Chalk is a humble material, yet capable of great refinement in the hands of a master. Notice how Reni used hatching and cross-hatching to build up the forms, creating a sense of depth and movement. The texture of the chalk on paper gives the drawing a softness, tempering the violence of the scene. The swirling clouds and dynamic poses of the figures suggest a world in turmoil. Drawings like this provided an essential step in the division of labor common in large workshops of the period. The artist could delegate the final execution to assistants while retaining control over the overall design. Ultimately, understanding the material and the process gives us insight into both the artist’s practice and the social context in which he worked, reminding us that even the most ethereal subjects are grounded in the practical realities of making.