Here’s a nice article on the show at the Met called “The Drawings of Bronzino.” I forgot how inspiring these 16th century drawings could be. I particularly like the Bronzino drawing below.

Painting was all about finish, the smoothing over of discrepant textures, the hiding of the seams. Drawing occupied a far looser and more relaxed aesthetic category. Although drawings presented to clients as demonstration pieces were highly polished, most were disposable byproducts of routine studio activity. Young artists learned their trade by repeatedly drawing work by their seniors.

Established artists used drawings to rough out ideas, resolve problems, pass on instructions or just to relax their hand. Drawing was a medium in which one artist could be and do many things, and through which several different artists could share a signature style.

– Holland Cotter (New York Times)