The Role of Drawing in the frescoes of Benozzo Gozzoli & his workshop

This is an examination of the role of drawing in the workshop of Benozzo Gozzoli (1420-1497) one of the most successful and prolific painters of the Florentine Quattrocento. Drawing is revealed as a way of gathering and disseminating visual motifs in Gozzoli''s workshop a means of developing pictorial and narrative composition and a tool for training workshop assistants. Whilst Gozzoli''s aptitude for portraiture is well known his sinopia sketches reveal a much underrated talent for figure drawing.