A View of Savelli near Albano 

Jan de Bisschop made this drawing, *A View of Savelli near Albano*, with pen and brown wash on paper sometime in the mid-17th century. The brown wash, applied with a brush, gives depth and shadow to the scene, creating a sense of three-dimensionality, while the pen lines define the architectural details of the buildings. The strokes are quick and confident, suggesting that de Bisschop was skilled and practiced in this technique. The choice of materials, pen and wash, was common for landscape drawings at the time, allowing for both precision and tonal variation, yet the effect is more than representational, the architecture looms from the hilltop in a dramatic and rugged way. The paper itself acts as a neutral backdrop, allowing the brown wash to stand out. Its texture influences the way the wash is absorbed, creating subtle variations in tone. The drawing's relatively small size suggests it was intended as a study or a personal work, rather than a grand commission. Paying attention to these materials and making processes allows us to appreciate the skill and artistry involved in creating this evocative landscape drawing.