The Archangels Gabriel, Michael and Raphael (recto); sketches of figures (verso) 1654 - 1714

Giuseppe Passeri sketched these Archangels in pen and brown ink, with brush and red wash, heightened with white opaque watercolor. The red wash, or sanguine, imbues the composition with a warm, ethereal quality, reminiscent of the Renaissance use of the technique. This materiality influences the appearance of the figures, softening their contours and giving them a sense of divine light. The energetic lines and swift strokes emphasize the immediacy of Passeri’s artistic practice. The use of pen and ink is combined with white heightening, resulting in a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. This process has imbued the artwork with a sense of drama and movement, suitable for its heavenly subject. In Passeri’s time, the skilled tradition of drawing was central to artistic training. The creation of preparatory sketches was vital to the production of larger works. Recognizing the labor and skill embedded in the creation of this drawing challenges any firm distinction between craft and fine art.