Design for an Antependium: The Madonna della Misericordia with Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, the Circumcision, and the Presentation of the Virgin 1365 - 1372

This delicate drawing by the Venetian artist Lorenzo Veneziano is a preparatory study for an antependium, a decorative panel placed in front of an altar. The design features the Madonna della Misericordia, a popular devotional image in which the Virgin Mary extends her cloak protectively over a group of figures, here including Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, the Circumcision, and the Presentation of the Virgin. The composition is gracefully framed by a series of gothic arches. The drawing is a testament to the artistry of this important Italian artist who tragically died at a young age.