Kneeling Saint and Lost Souls before the Madonna and Child, with Four Alternate Border Designs 17th century

This 17th century anonymous drawing depicts a scene from the Catholic faith. The Virgin Mary, seated on clouds and surrounded by angels, holds the Christ child. Kneeling before her is a saint, likely Saint Francis, as angels and lost souls surround them. This drawing, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies the artistic expressions of Catholic devotion during the Baroque period. The work's composition emphasizes the heavenly realms, with the Virgin Mary and the angels situated above the earthly plane where the saint and the souls reside. This drawing demonstrates the artist's skill in rendering figures and detailing the heavenly scenes.