Analysis of The Invention of Drawing 

Worksheet

The Belgian artist Joseph-Benoît Suvée depicted the moment when, according to the Roman senator and naturalist Pliny the Elder (d. A.D. 79), the art of drawing was invented. In the scene rendered by Suvée, the Corinthian maiden Dibutade, upset at the prospect of her lover departing on a voyage, grabbed a tool and traced his shadow on the wall of her father’s pottery studio. This legend of the origin of drawing was a particularly popular subject among Neoclassical artists.  

1.  Dibutade’s desire to keep an image of her lover while he was away tells us something about her. What qualities can we say Dibutade possesses, based solely on her decision to find a way of doing this?

2.  What is the main theme of this story?

3.  Based on Enlightenment philosophies, why would Dibutade be considered an important role model? 

4.  What has Suvée done in this drawing to express the drama of the scene?

5.  In what way do you see this theme or lesson still being portrayed today?