Design for Architrave with Ornamental Scrollwork, Satyr, and Sea Nymph n.d.

This drawing of an architrave with ornamental scrollwork, satyr, and sea nymph was made with pen and brown ink, with brown wash, over black chalk on cream laid paper. The supple lines and shading that define the satyr and sea nymph are rendered with great precision. The scrollwork is elaborate and finely drawn, showcasing a high level of craftsmanship. What is interesting here is that the drawing is a design for architectural ornamentation; it is not an artwork in itself, but rather a step towards the creation of something else. The drawing reflects a society that valued skilled labor and careful planning. In this way, we can look at the drawing as a document of production; a moment in a larger process, and a reminder that objects and artworks are the result of human labor and ingenuity.