Moses Delivering God's Commandments to the Israelites 

This drawing of Moses delivering God's commandments to the Israelites, was made by Jan Swart van Groningen, around the early Sixteenth Century. Executed in pen and brown ink with gray wash, the artistry lies in the layering of tones, creating depth with simple means. Note how the artist uses the thinness of the lines to suggest a far off mountain range, using less pressure and ink. Swart van Groningen displays technical mastery with the expressive cross-hatching used to create shadows, and delineate the folds of drapery. There's a real contrast here between the permanence of the tablets and the relative ephemerality of the ink on paper. Drawings like this played a crucial role in the workshops of the period; they were a means of planning larger works like paintings or prints, but have a beauty all their own. The artist’s skill transforms simple materials into a powerful depiction of law, faith, and community.