Feldherr zu Pferde empfängt die Schlüssel einer Stadt 

This drawing of a victorious general receiving the keys to a city was made by Pietro Liberi, sometime in the 17th century. It's executed in pen and brown ink with a grey wash on laid paper. The choice of materials is significant. Liberi wasn't working in expensive oils, but rather in the humbler medium of ink on paper. The rapid, fluid lines suggest it was made quickly, likely as a preparatory sketch for a larger, more elaborate painting or print. But it is a finished work in itself. The grey wash adds depth and volume, creating a sense of drama and movement. The artist's skill is evident in the confident handling of the pen, capturing the details of the figures and architecture with economy. This drawing is not merely a record of an event, it’s about the artist’s virtuosity and the power of drawing to convey complex narratives with minimal means. It blurs the lines between the status of ‘sketch’ and ‘finished work.’