Materials and Techniques - Dry Media
Head of a Young Man, Franciabigio, Francesco di Cristofano, early 16th century. Museum no. D.1010-1900
Head of a Young Man
Franciabigio, Francesco di Cristofano (about 1482-1525)
Early 16th century
Black chalk with touches of white
Width 20.6 cm x height 25.1 cm
Museum no. D.1010-1900
Here black chalk is used both as a linear and a modeling medium.
Study for the Head of Jesus in the Painting of the Holy Family, Palazzo Barberini, Rome, Andrea del Sarto, early 16th century. Museum no. D.1705-1885
Study for the Head of Jesus in the Painting of the Holy Family, Palazzo Barberini, Rome
Andrea del Sarto (1486-1530)
Early 16th century
Red chalk on laid paper
Width 11.7 cm x height 14.5 cm
Museum no. D.1705-1885
Andrea del Sarto showed a preference for red chalk during the last ten years of his life. He was in Paris in 1518, which may have contributed to the enthusiasm with which it was taken up in France.
Studies of Goats. Probably Related to a Painting of the Prodigal Son, Thomas Gainsborough, late 1780s. Museum no. Dyce 688
Studies of Goats. Probably Related to a Painting of the Prodigal Son
Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788)
Black and white chalk on buff laid paper
Width 21 cm x height 17.5 cm
Museum no. Dyce 688
White chalk is often used to provide an image with highlights. Here it is used to define form.
Study of a Standing Female Nude, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, early 20th century. Museum no. E.4980-1919
Study of a Standing Female Nude
Henri Gaudier-Brzeska (1891-1915)
Early 20th century
Charcoal on wove paper
Width 20 cm x height 50 cm
Museum no. E.4980-1919
The artist seems to have enjoyed making the blocky forms that charcoal sticks produce with such economy.
Portrait of an Unknown Man, Thomas Forster, 1702. Museum no. P.84-1929
Portrait of an Unknown Man
Thomas Forster (worked about 1690-1713)
Graphite on vellum
Width 8.5 cm x height 10 cm
Museum no. P.84-1929
An example of the use of pure graphite often called plumbago. Even in this soft form it was capable of greater richness and delicacy than any other graphic medium.
King John’s Palace Eltham, Thomas Girtin, late 18th century. Museum no. E.625-1953
King John’s Palace Eltham
Thomas Girtin (1775-1802)
Late 18th century
Graphite on cream wove paper
Width 27.4 cm x height 32.2
Museum no. E.625-1953
A brilliant example of the rapid economy of the pencil‘s ability to suggest intricate detail and surface texture. Such pencil sketches frequently formed the structural underpinning of finished water-colours by the English School.