Glory of Angels n.d.

Giovanni Battista Beinaschi made this drawing, Glory of Angels, in pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk, sometime in the 17th century. The process of drawing has a unique place in the history of art. Here, we can see the artist's hand so directly. Every line, every area of shading, testifies to Beinaschi's skill. The choice of pen and ink allowed for precise linework, defining the figures of angels in dramatic poses. The brown wash adds depth and volume, creating a sense of movement and light. The drawing would have been a study for a larger composition, perhaps a fresco or an altarpiece. Drawings are a tool for artists to explore ideas, work out compositions, and refine their techniques, so they are not exactly ‘art’ and not exactly ‘craft’. A drawing like this reminds us that all art emerges from a process of making, and a real commitment to materiality.