Madonna and Child in the Clouds (adored by two pairs of donors) c. late 16th century

This drawing of the Madonna and Child adored by two pairs of donors was created anonymously using pen and brown ink with gray wash. During the time this drawing was made, the Catholic Church was a central part of life, and greatly influenced the cultural imagination, including gender roles and social hierarchies. The Virgin Mary, as both the Mother of God and an ideal of womanhood, was a common subject of veneration and artistic representation. Here, she is depicted as the maternal and regal figure, and occupies the majority of the composition. What's so interesting is how this image also includes two pairs of donors, people who were likely patrons of the arts and of the Church. Their inclusion in the drawing speaks to their own social standing and piety, and how they wanted to be seen. It seems that this drawing blurs the boundaries between the divine and the earthly, inviting the viewer to contemplate the relationship between the sacred and the social. In its own way, this reflects the personal connections to faith and community in the everyday lives of people at the time.