underdrawing
noun
un·der·draw·ing
ˈən-dər-ˌdrȯ-iŋ 
: a preliminary sketch made on a surface (such as a canvas or panel) prior to painting
Examples of underdrawing in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Though scholars have previously studied the work, discovering such details as a dotted underdrawing in Anne’s bodice, the recent conservation and cleaning is the first major undertaking in the painting’s history.
—
Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024
To create them, Hockney painted directly onto the canvas without any underdrawing, completing each one in two to three sittings, according to the gallery.
—Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Nov. 2023
The technical term for the underdrawing is spolvero, an Italian term of art referring to a charcoal guiding sketch created by a form of stenciling.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 1 Oct. 2020
Then the artist would apply a layer (or more) of variously colored paints to define the underdrawing.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 July 2020
Infrared reflectography showed that Bruegel’s copious underdrawing, very visible elsewhere (sometimes even through worn paint), is missing there.
—Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 21 Jan. 2020
Previously unseen underdrawings on the work’s wood panel, for instance, showed the artist changed compositional details including the position of the figures’ hands multiple times.
—Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 18 Nov. 2019
The underdrawings just add to the mystery of the painting.
—Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 15 Aug. 2019
Since around 2005, infrared technology has made the museum aware of an underdrawing beneath the six-foot tall, wood-panel painting.
—Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 15 Aug. 2019
Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2024
To create them, Hockney painted directly onto the canvas without any underdrawing, completing each one in two to three sittings, according to the gallery.
—Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Nov. 2023
The technical term for the underdrawing is spolvero, an Italian term of art referring to a charcoal guiding sketch created by a form of stenciling.
—Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 1 Oct. 2020
Then the artist would apply a layer (or more) of variously colored paints to define the underdrawing.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 July 2020
Infrared reflectography showed that Bruegel’s copious underdrawing, very visible elsewhere (sometimes even through worn paint), is missing there.
—Judith H. Dobrzynski, WSJ, 21 Jan. 2020
Previously unseen underdrawings on the work’s wood panel, for instance, showed the artist changed compositional details including the position of the figures’ hands multiple times.
—Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 18 Nov. 2019
The underdrawings just add to the mystery of the painting.
—Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 15 Aug. 2019
Since around 2005, infrared technology has made the museum aware of an underdrawing beneath the six-foot tall, wood-panel painting.
—Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 15 Aug. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'underdrawing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Underdrawing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/underdrawing. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
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