Saint Gregory as Deacon Directing Prayers and Processions for the Cessation of the Plague 1762

This drawing by French artist Carle Vanloo depicts Saint Gregory the Great, a 6th century pope, as a deacon leading prayers and processions to end a plague. The scene is framed in a decorative, rococo-style border with cherubs and a seashell motif, typical of the period. The artist captures the reverence of the scene, including the expressions of Saint Gregory and the crowd of people behind him. Vanloo's drawing, completed in 1762, is a small piece, only 7 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.