Dorcas Raised From the Dead by Saint Peter 1667 - 1673

Jacob Jordaens created this drawing titled *Dorcas Raised From the Dead by Saint Peter* with pen and brown ink, heightened with touches of red chalk. Note the artist’s engagement with the potential of the drawn line, using it to create depth and texture. From the ornate woodwork to the expressive faces, the image comes to life. Red chalk adds warmth to the figures and architecture, providing contrast against the cooler tones of the ink. We know that Jordaens made many preparatory drawings for his paintings, but this one has a particularly compelling character of its own, with an immediacy that relates to the artist’s own hand. Drawing allowed artists to experiment with compositions and ideas, quickly exploring different possibilities before committing to a final design. But it could also simply be an end in itself. In Jordaens’s case, drawing allowed him to explore both. Either way, this drawing shows how even a ‘minor’ art form can possess a magic all its own.