Faith 1774

This pencil drawing, titled "Faith", was made by John Downman. The artist is working with the simplest of means here - graphite on paper, which is a direct way of capturing thoughts. The image of Faith with a chalice, combined with the medium’s inherent qualities of light, delicate lines, imbues the artwork with a sense of simplicity. Notice the way Downman builds up tone and form with nothing but line. Drawings like this were often preparatory studies; he also engaged in the labor of creating more highly finished works, often portraits. It's interesting to consider the economics of artmaking in the 18th century, when an artist would be both a skilled practitioner and essentially a small business. Ultimately, understanding the materials and processes, and placing them within a social and economic context, allows us to appreciate not only the artist’s skill, but also the complex web of interactions that contributed to the creation of this drawing.