A child sitting on a woman’s arm crowns a bearded man while other men watch from behind 16th century

This anonymous 16th-century drawing, housed at the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst, depicts a scene of regal coronation. A child, perched upon a woman's arm, places a crown upon the head of a bearded man. The figure's imposing stature and the presence of other men behind him suggest he is a king. This detailed composition, rendered in black chalk and heightened with white, likely served as a preparatory study for a larger work. The artwork provides a glimpse into the artistic practices of the 16th century, where drawing played a crucial role in the creative process.