Plein voor een renaissancepaleis 1662

Daniel de Blieck created this drawing on paper with pen and brush, rendering ink and grey wash. The architecture he depicts is nothing if not laborious. The sheer amount of stone, brick, and plasterwork involved in such a project speaks to the intense concentration of wealth and skilled labor required for these structures. We can imagine teams of stonecutters, bricklayers, and sculptors all working to realize this grand vision. Notice the careful lines of perspective, the meticulous detail in the ornamentation. Even in monochrome, the weight of the building is made apparent. The drawing, of course, required its own kind of skilled work – the artist’s hand moving with precision to capture every detail. Ultimately, this drawing is a testament to the many levels of craftsmanship that go into creating architectural spectacles, and to their significance in social stratification.