The Delivery of the Keys to Saint Peter 1660

Jan Boeckhorst made this drawing, "The Delivery of the Keys to Saint Peter", sometime in the 17th century, using pen and brown ink, with brush and brown wash, heightened with white gouache, over black chalk, on paper. The material qualities of this work directly influence our experience of it, with the earthy tones of the brown ink and wash creating a sense of depth and shadow. Boeckhorst’s use of hatching and cross-hatching with the pen, combined with the broad strokes of the brush, adds to the dynamism of the composition, as the figures seem to emerge from the page. The choice of these relatively modest materials, combined with the artist’s skilled technique, reflects a balance between practicality and artistry, as the work could function as a preparatory sketch as well as a work of art. By valuing the material and the process of its making, we begin to consider the social context in which this drawing was created. The act of drawing itself, as a fundamental skill for artists, transcends the traditional hierarchy between the fine and applied arts.