Christ in the Wilderness
Medium
Pen and brown ink and brush and brown wash, with touches of black chalk, on ivory laid paper, laid down on cream laid card
Dimensions
19.8 × 11.8 cm (7 13/16 × 4 11/16 in.)
Classification
ink or chalk wash
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
84292
Art Historical Context
Juan del Castillo’s *Christ in the Wilderness* captures a moment of solitude and reflection from the biblical narrative. Rendered in delicate pen and brown ink with fluid brush washes and subtle touches of black chalk, the small drawing measures just under eight inches tall. Its intimate scale invites close viewing, revealing the artist’s careful attention to the figure’s contemplative pose against a sparse landscape. The combination of line and wash was a favored technique among draftsmen of the period, allowing rapid exploration of light, shadow, and form while preparing larger compositions...