The Age of Gold 

Pietro da Cortona made this red chalk drawing, "The Age of Gold," as a study for a fresco in the Palazzo Pitti. You can see here how Cortona used the grid to scale up his composition to the much larger surface of the ceiling, indicating a studio practice that values precision and preparation. The red chalk material lends itself to fluidity and expressiveness, ideal for capturing fleeting ideas and dynamic movement in a preliminary sketch, which is crucial in a drawing of this kind, intended as a preparation for a large scale painting in fresco on a ceiling, requiring a lot of planning. Cortona’s focus on classical subject matter also situates the work within a tradition of academic art, deeply embedded in the patronage systems of the time. The drawing encapsulates the labor involved in producing grand artworks. While seemingly spontaneous, the drawing reflects careful planning and skilled execution, reminding us that even the most effortless-looking creations are often the result of considerable work and technical knowledge.