Study for Raising Lazarus ? (recto); Two Standing Men (verso) 1540 - 1575

This drawing, dating from the 16th century, is by the Italian artist Stefano dall'Arzere, and made with pen and brown ink on paper. The earthy tones, a direct result of the iron-based ink interacting with the paper over centuries, give the image a sense of age and immediacy. Look closely and you’ll see the energetic lines that define the figures, a mass of bodies surrounding the figure of Christ, a study for the Raising of Lazarus. This type of drawing was, in a sense, the lifeblood of artistic production at the time. Drawings such as this one were not just preparatory exercises, they were a crucial part of the artist's labor; a means of visualizing and resolving the complexities of a composition before committing to a larger, more permanent work, or as a commodity to be bought and sold. The sheer amount of time and skill invested in these drawings underscores the intense work that went into artistic production in the Renaissance. Considering this drawing in terms of material and process allows us to appreciate the labor involved in its making, and how techniques informed not just its creation, but also its role in a wider economic and artistic system.