“Disegno Today” takes a deep dive into spectacular drawings from the past, exploring why they were created, and what we can learn from them today. Although still touching on some works by other artists such as Jusepe de Ribera, Vincent Van Gogh, and Tintoretto, this lecture focuses on drawings by the revered Italian artist of the Renaissance, Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino 1483–1520).

“Disegno” is the Italian word that most easily translates to English’s “drawing,” but it has a meaning imbedded with design. This lecture, by comparing specific drawings to well-known paintings, draws ties between the works of preparation and the final products, all while Tom Richards highlights the merits of the drawings as works in their own right. Drawings are often fragile works, and can easily be damaged or lost over time, but their impact and influence on the design of surviving works remains visible.

“Disegno Today” might not focus on contemporary drawings, but we hope that by the end of the lecture that you too will see why Tom Richards says “these drawings are as alive and as relevant as anything that any contemporary draftsman is doing.”