Allegory or Goddess (Juno?) 1500 - 1600

Perino del Vaga rendered this drawing, Allegory or Goddess (Juno?), using pen and brown ink, with brown wash over black chalk, in the 16th century. This artwork immediately speaks to process. Look at the confident strokes of the pen; it reveals a sureness of hand and a deep understanding of form. The brown ink, applied with varying pressure, brings depth to the figures, especially Juno. Notice how del Vaga employed a brown wash over black chalk to achieve subtle gradations of light and shadow, enhancing the three-dimensionality of the composition. The choice of materials is itself significant. In this period, drawings were functional objects, a means to an end. The lines and details suggest how labor-intensive the production of frescoes and large-scale paintings would have been. Ultimately, this drawing teaches us that the true value of art lies not just in the final product, but also in the skill, labor, and historical context of its making.