Quills For Drawing

[sidthecat]

I visited the Getty Center the other day, and saw their exquisite little installation of Giovanni Bellini. An early master of the Venetian Renaissance whose work bore an odd similarity in style and composition to Hieronymous Bosch - maybe Bosch on meds.

But the reason Im posting was the beautiful little ink drawing in the exhibit. A lovingly-hatched Holy Family in sepia (not unlike the R & K ink I use). As I studied the drawing I was impressed by the range of line weights and I began to wonder if Bellini used a single pen or several to execute the drawing?

He probably used quill pens, and I imagine he might have used several at a time, and perhaps in several sizes. But does anyone KNOW?

I throw it out to the knowledge base, and heartily recommend taking in the exhibit if youre in the area.