Why should I study the Old Masters?

Because they could really draw. Drawing was the cornerstone of their craft, and their drawings reveal their thoughts. I was just browsing on the About.com Art History website when I came across this review of French Drawings at the Weimar by Stan Parchin. Do go and take a look at the review: sadly, the exhibition has long since finished, but Stan's comments are worth reading, and I'd especially love you to see the incredible Boucher drawing, shown on the page. A marvellous example of figure drawing, using black and white chalks on cream paper, it reminded me just how much we can learn from the great masters of art. Boucher's economy of line is astonishing, even on this much-reduced scale. Notice his observation of shadow, with the darkest 'core shadow' along the side of the figure described in a few hatched lines over the softly shaded cast shadow. If you've been drawing for a little while and want to develop your drawing skills, take a step back in time and see how the masters did it.

Boucher at the Frick - Illustrated Review
Rubens - Illustrated Review
Old Master Techniques - elsewhere on the net