Family of Darius before Alexander n.d.

Giovanni Battista Pittoni made this study, "Family of Darius before Alexander," using chalk on paper, sometime in the 18th century. The lines are rapidly drawn, not intended as an end in themselves but rather as preparation for a more finished painting. You can see the provisional character of Pittoni's method in the many adjustments and corrections. It’s a glimpse into the artist’s process. Think about the economics of Pittoni's time. Drawings like these were, in a sense, intellectual property, a means of generating future revenue. They represent the art market of the time, where ideas were commodities, sketched out and sold. The chalk itself is a humble material, but in the hands of a skilled artist, it becomes a tool for visualizing grand historical narratives, a crucial step in the production of a finished artwork. Looking closely at Pittoni's drawing reminds us that art-making is a layered process, deeply embedded in its social and economic context.