Various Figure Groups 

This drawing of figure groups was made by Palma il Giovane in Italy, sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century. In the Renaissance, drawing was seen as an intellectual and creative activity, reflecting the artist's power of invention. Many artists made drawings, such as this, to explore ideas and compositions. The drawing is an interesting window into the cultural and institutional history of artmaking in Venice. Palma was the son of a painter, and nephew of the more famous Palma Vecchio, an example of artistic skill being passed down through families. The drawing shows various groups of figures, some pulling a boat ashore, others gathered around what appears to be a winch or crane. It seems likely that this drawing would have been made in preparation for a larger painting. The role of the art historian is to investigate the surviving archival and documentary evidence to get a better understanding of the artist's intentions and the social context in which they were working.