Sketches of a Standing Saint Holding a Sword (recto); Sketches of Figures and Heads (verso) c. 1550s

This anonymous 16th century pen and ink drawing from the Art Institute of Chicago is a preparatory study for a larger composition. The artist’s use of hatching to indicate the folds of the saints’ robes and the dynamic poses suggest a keen interest in depicting the human form. The verso of the drawing features sketches of figures and heads, possibly for a different project. This type of preliminary study was common practice during the Renaissance, as artists used them to work out compositional problems and refine their ideas.