Apollo mit Rossegespann, gefolgt von Luna, in starker Unteransicht 

This drawing of Apollo with his chariot, followed by Luna, was created by Francesco Primaticcio in the 16th century. It’s made with pen and brown ink, heightened with white, on paper. Primaticcio’s choice of media is important here. Unlike a finished painting, this drawing puts the labor of image-making on full display. The lines aren’t concealed by layers of color. We see the artist’s hand at work, hatching and cross-hatching to build up the figures. The white heightening adds volume and drama to the composition. It also makes you wonder about the underdrawing, which provides the foundation. Given the period, it’s safe to assume that this drawing was not made solely for its own sake. Likely it was a preparatory sketch for a larger project, perhaps a painting or fresco. The drawing process, then, was both an act of personal expression and a form of intellectual property, a means of developing and protecting a valuable idea. By focusing on the materials and making of this artwork, we can see the artist's labor, and the social context in which it was produced.