Die Verehrung der Hostie durch die vier Evangelisten 

Giovanni Lanfranco made this drawing, "Die Verehrung der Hostie durch die vier Evangelisten," with pen and brush in brown ink, heightened with white, on gray-brown paper. It is a study for an altarpiece, and the creative process is visible right on the surface. Look closely, and you'll notice the energetic lines and the washes of ink that define the forms. The white heightening adds drama, lifting the figures from the page and creating a sense of heavenly light. Lanfranco's technique is rooted in the traditions of academic drawing, where mastery of line and shading were paramount. But the dynamism and expressive quality also point to a more personal engagement with the subject. The drawing feels immediate, conveying the artist's own devotion, a critical component of labor in service to religious institutions. It’s a compelling reminder that even in the realm of the spiritual, the hand of the artist, and the material qualities of the medium, play a vital role in shaping meaning and belief.