Sts John the Evangelist and Bartholomew from Jacopo Bassano’s "Cassola altarpiece" 1510 - 1592

This drawing, now at the Statens Museum for Kunst, was made anonymously in preparation for Jacopo Bassano’s "Cassola altarpiece.” It's rendered in pen and brown ink, heightened with white, on gray paper. The material qualities of the paper support the artist's process of design, as they’re conducive to layering and adjustment. The artist has used the pen to explore the relationship between line and volume, building up the figures of John the Evangelist and Bartholomew with subtle hatching and cross-hatching. The white heightening is used selectively to create highlights and add a sense of depth. In this case, the paper isn’t merely a passive support, but an active participant in the creative process. Its texture and color influence the appearance of the drawing, giving it a subtle warmth and depth. The artist has exploited these qualities to create a work that is both technically accomplished and visually appealing, demonstrating the importance of understanding materials and making in art historical interpretation.