Susanna Surprised by the Two Elders

Heinrich Aldegrever

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of a scene in a historic, architectural setting with a nude figure and a fountain. The drawing features a stone building with a sundial on the side, a coil of cloth draped over a ledge, and a fountain with water flowing into a jug. The figure, a woman, is seated beside the fountain. In the background, the architecture has towers and numerous windows, suggesting a medieval or Renaissance European city. A tree with sprawling branches adds to the verticality of the composition. There are two smaller figures in the center. The artist uses intricate line work to depict textures and forms, providing a rich sense of depth and detail.