Saint John the Evangelist 

Francesco Salviati's "Saint John the Evangelist" is rendered in chalk, presenting a study in tonal contrast and dynamic form. Notice the figure's assured pose and the use of light and shadow to define the contours of the saint's body and drapery. Salviati masterfully employs hatching and cross-hatching to create a sense of volume and depth. The dark, dense shading around the figure's periphery throws the illuminated torso and arms into sharp relief, heightening the drawing's dramatic impact. The composition is structured by a series of diagonals, from the saint's sash to the tilt of his head, infusing the work with a sense of movement and energy. The snake emerging from the chalice, an attribute of Saint John, is rendered with particular attention to its serpentine form, embodying both danger and divine transformation. This drawing, with its emphasis on formal elements and dynamic composition, exemplifies how the artist engaged with the artistic and intellectual currents of his time, inviting us to consider the interplay between form and meaning.