A Prophet Addressed by an Angel 1517 - 1519

Sebastiano del Piombo’s drawing shows a prophet being addressed by an angel. The composition divides the scene between the earthly and the divine through the use of line and form. The robust, three-dimensional figure of the prophet, meticulously shaded with ink and chalk, is set against a comparatively flat, schematic background, complete with an evenly spaced grid. This stark contrast establishes a visual hierarchy, emphasizing the tangible presence of the prophet over the ethereal realm of the angel. Piombo uses the materiality of the drawing—the texture of the paper, the varying pressure of the chalk—to further articulate the distinction between the figures. The angel, rendered with softer lines, seems almost weightless compared to the grounded prophet. This formal contrast mirrors the conceptual tension inherent in the scene: the intersection of divine message and human interpretation. It highlights the prophet's role as a mediator, caught between the word of God and its inscription.