Ganymed on the eagle 

This is Carlo Maratti’s drawing, Ganymed on the eagle. Likely made in the late 17th or early 18th century, it is executed in red chalk on paper. Although seemingly simple, the medium and processes used in the work can be seen in many ways. The red chalk is a relatively unforgiving medium, so the artist has committed to an initial idea. The hatching creates a great sense of tonal variation and volume, but is in essence, a series of lines. Note the relative lack of detail and resolution, compared with the finished paintings that Maratti was also producing. This artwork is therefore a record of a process of intellectual and material refinement, as well as, a testament to how fine art and craft are related and can influence each other. The work helps us appreciate the relationship between the grand finished manner, which the artist was known for, and the necessary labor of working out the details.