How did Tintoretto practice drawing figures and lighting effects?

To practice drawing figures and resolving complex lighting effects, Tintoretto employed a methodical and inventive approach. He created drawing exercises based on nature and statues, but he was particularly noted for using small wax models.1

He would pose these wax figures in various ways and illuminate them artificially, effectively using them like tiny stage sets to study how light would interact with forms. This technique allowed him to resolve problems of light and space, enabling him to determine how to pick out certain forms while casting others into darkness.12

By mastering these methods, Tintoretto developed a narrative fluency that allowed him to define forms and heighten the drama within his compositions. This approach was fundamental to his mature style, where light was used not just for illumination, but to create a sense of movement and to define the visionary quality of his work.213