Perino del Vaga, Saint Peter, c. 1530, quill pen and iron gall ink on paper. The Clark, 2003.9.2 

Considered among the most notable collectors of early modern drawings during the first half of the twentieth century, Sterling and Francine Clark inaugurated a lasting legacy with precious sheets by Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, Pietro Perugino, and others. This tradition continued at the Clark in the ensuing years, notably with the acquisition of thirty exceptional Italian drawings from the estate of Alice Steiner in 2003. Altogether these works span about 250 years of Italian art and present a range of interpretations of the human figure in action and at rest, in religious and secular contexts. Although ink is the predominant medium, its use—whether alone or in combination with wash or chalk—produces distinct effects in the hands of each artist.