Group of figures 

Polidoro da Caravaggio sketched "Group of Figures" at an unknown date, now housed in the Städel Museum, using pen and brown ink over a sketch in black chalk. At first glance, we see a study of figures clustered with a complex interaction of gazes and gestures. The composition's strength lies in its dynamic arrangement and the interplay of lines. Caravaggio masterfully employs hatching and cross-hatching to model forms and create depth, which gives the figures a tangible presence, despite the sketch's unfinished state. The pointing figure draws our eye, creating a visual path that moves around the ensemble. The artist's structural approach challenges conventional representations of human form. It invites us to consider how classical forms can be both celebrated and deconstructed through drawing, opening up a dialogue about the foundations of artistic expression itself. Ultimately, this sketch invites us to appreciate the artist’s process and the evolving nature of artistic ideas.