Madonna and Child c. 18th century

Curator: This drawing, "Madonna and Child," is by Pietro Antonio Novelli. Look at the dimensions—it's quite intimate in scale. Editor: There’s a tenderness, but also something a little unfinished. It's got a spontaneous feel, like a fleeting thought captured in ink. Curator: Observe how Novelli uses line. The hatching behind the figures, for instance, creates depth without solid form. The composition is classical, yet the execution feels very immediate. Editor: It's interesting you say classical. I see a real softness in the Madonna's face, a human quality. Almost like a loving gaze between them. Curator: The materiality of the line creates both volume and void. The work seems to explore the spatial relationship between the figures. Editor: For me, it's the emotion in that relationship that really sings out. It's like a study in the quiet connection between a mother and her child. Curator: It offers a fascinating glimpse into Novelli's process and artistic concerns. Editor: Yes, and into a timeless expression of love, captured in a few deft strokes.