Heilige Michelina 1570 - 1620

Antonio Viviani created this diminutive drawing, Heilige Michelina, sometime before 1854, using paper and ink. The drawing itself is quite simple; it's the material that really speaks to the labor and social dynamics of artistic production. Paper at this time was not the ubiquitous commodity it is today. The quality and type of paper would have reflected the artist’s resources, access, and intended use for the drawing. This looks like a relatively inexpensive paper. We can assume that Viviani likely purchased it from a local supplier, or perhaps it was a scrap from another use. The ink, too, would have been prepared, highlighting the artist's knowledge and skill in material preparation. The act of drawing would have been a deliberate and skilled process. By understanding these aspects, we gain a deeper insight into the working practices of artists like Viviani, and the economies that enabled them.