Saint Frances 

Frans Pourbus the Younger made this drawing of Saint Frances with pen and brown ink. The sepia ink, lightly applied, gives a warm, translucent quality to the drawing. The artist uses a limited range of marks to delineate form and texture. He coaxes a remarkable tonal range from this humble medium. Notice the fine, close hatching on the saint's face, creating a sense of volume and depth. Then consider the looser, more gestural lines used to evoke the surrounding landscape. The penwork has a directness to it, as if done quickly, spontaneously. The drawing might be considered a preliminary study for a larger composition, allowing the artist to work through his ideas, exploring the relationship between figure and ground. Consider how this approach contrasts with the highly finished surfaces that Pourbus achieved in his painted portraits. In those works, his mastery was manifested through precise details and smooth, flawless application, catering to aristocratic patrons. In this modest drawing, we see the artist grappling with form and expression using very simple means. This reminds us that even the most celebrated artists rely on their craft, and this image offers us an intimate look at the nuts and bolts of their process.