Sitting Fides c. 1600

This drawing of Sitting Fides was made by Conrad Mantius sometime before 1584, using pen and brown ink over pencil on laid paper. The artist has chosen humble materials to depict an allegorical figure, Fides – she is faith personified. Mantius's lines are spare, confident, delineating the draped figure, the crown on her head, the staff held aloft. The drawing’s strength comes from the way the artist coaxes volume and depth from such modest means, layering strokes of ink to imply shadow and form. Consider, too, the nature of drawing itself. It is a primal act of creation, yet also a medium often used for preparatory sketches. This begs the question: was this drawing an end in itself, or a step toward a larger work, like a print or painting? Either way, the artist's process – the direct, unmediated application of ink to paper – offers a compelling point of access to his creative vision. It reminds us that even the most ethereal concepts take shape through deliberate material acts.