Alexander Cutting the Gordian Knot, Study for a Fresco in the Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome 1501 - 1547

This drawing, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was made by Perino del Vaga as a preparatory sketch for a fresco in Rome's Castel Sant'Angelo. Executed in pen and brown ink, with a grey wash over black chalk, the drawing showcases the artist's mastery of traditional Renaissance techniques. The layered process, from initial chalk sketch to detailed pen work and shading with wash, highlights the importance of draftsmanship in the creation of monumental frescoes. Notice how del Vaga uses the grey wash to add depth and volume, creating a sense of movement and drama. The traditional materials stand in contrast to the story itself. Alexander's decisive act—slicing through the Gordian Knot instead of untying it—represents a departure from conventional solutions. This piece speaks to the artist’s intellectual labor, deeply embedded in the social and cultural values of the Renaissance. The drawing serves not only as a study for a larger work, but also as a testament to the artist’s skill, labor and creative process. It blurs the lines between the status of drawing as a mere preliminary step, and as an artwork in its own right.