The Calling of Saint Matthew n.d.

Giovanni Battista Lanzeni made this drawing, The Calling of Saint Matthew, sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries, using pen and brown ink with brown wash over graphite. The choice of a relatively humble medium gives this work a sense of immediacy, as if we are looking over the artist's shoulder as he works out his ideas. The quick, confident strokes of the pen suggest that Lanzeni was a highly skilled draughtsman, capable of capturing complex forms with remarkable efficiency. Note how the ink bleeds slightly into the paper, creating subtle variations in tone and texture. The use of brown wash adds depth and shadow, further enhancing the sense of volume and space. The drawing is not a finished work, but rather a study for a larger composition, perhaps a painting or fresco. Yet, in its very incompleteness, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the creative process, reminding us that even the most polished works of art often begin with a simple sketch. It blurs the distinction between craft and fine art.