Udkast til et ovalt loftsmaleri(?) forestillende kongerne Otto den Store (912-973), Ludvig den Rige (1417-1479) og Ruprecht (1352-1410) 1540 - 1599

Friedrich Sustris created this ink and wash drawing, a study for a ceiling painting, sometime before his death in 1599. The drawing gives us a glimpse into the process of visualizing power. See how Sustris used thin washes of ink to create depth and volume? These light and shadow effects add to the grandeur of the three emperors depicted. The use of pen and ink on paper allowed Sustris to quickly sketch out his ideas, playing with the composition and details before committing to a larger, more permanent painting. Consider the labor involved in creating a finished ceiling painting. It would be a monumental undertaking involving assistants, scaffolding, and the transfer of this design onto a large surface. The drawing, then, is just the first step in a complex process of artistic production, one that reflects the hierarchical structure of the workshop and the patronage system that supported artists like Sustris. It reminds us that even a seemingly simple drawing can reveal a wealth of information about the social and economic context in which it was made.