Lunette with the Madonna and Child with Sts Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena 1537 - 1627

Giovanni Battista Ricci's "Lunette with the Madonna and Child with Sts Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena" is a preparatory drawing for a larger painting, and is a fine example of Renaissance Italian art. The drawing features a grid, which the artist likely used to transfer the composition onto the larger canvas. The scene depicts the Virgin Mary seated on a throne, holding the Christ Child. On either side kneel two figures, Saints Francis of Assisi and Catherine of Siena, both of whom are venerated in the Catholic Church. The artist’s precise draughtsmanship and the composition’s careful balance are typical of the Renaissance. This work is part of the collection of the SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst.