Drawing of a Ewer in Antique Style 1505 - 1546

Giulio Romano rendered this drawing of an antique-style ewer using pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk. These are traditional art materials, yet the drawing is not made as a study for a painting or a fresco, but for a metalwork. The artist, who was working in Renaissance Italy, was interested in how design could be used to shape metal into beautiful forms. His technique is precise and meticulous. You can almost feel the weight and coolness of the metal, as well as the hand of the artisan who would have hammered and chased it into shape. Giulio Romano was very attuned to the modes of production of his time. The drawing displays an understanding of the labor involved in bringing such a design to life, and how the processes involved impart cultural significance. This piece shows how design, craft, and fine art were closely intertwined in the Renaissance.