The Virgin with the Infant Jesus and St. John 

Palma il Giovane sketched The Virgin with the Infant Jesus and St. John with pen and brown ink, on top of a drawing in black chalk. The fluidity of the ink washes shapes the figures in the composition. The artist uses these materials to imbue the scene with social or cultural significance: the Virgin's serene expression as she lovingly cradles the infants, conveys a mood of intimate tenderness. The nature of ink lends itself well to such an intimate scene: it is a less forceful medium than oil paint for example. Palma worked within the established traditions of fine art, but his method invites us to question established practices and aesthetics: the work embodies many hours of design and physical making, and challenges the distinctions between high art and craft. The drawing is quick, it's a study, but that makes the result no less skilled. Ultimately, the choice of materials and making processes played a crucial role in shaping the artwork's expressive qualities.