A good deed of St Homobonus (?) 1657 - 1736

Giuseppe Nicola Nasini created this ink drawing, A Good Deed of St. Homobonus, date unknown, now at the SMK. The drawing's dynamic composition is immediately striking; it pulls the viewer into a story of divine intervention and human suffering. Nasini orchestrates a scene where heavenly figures converge with earthly misery. Look at the light and shadow that define the figures, creating depth and a sense of drama. The composition uses a semiotic language of salvation, where angels bearing a wreath symbolize divine favor bestowed upon Saint Homobonus, as he performs a charitable act. The figure on the ground directs our attention to the saint, whose outstretched arm and flowing robes are charged with symbolic meaning. The materiality of the ink on paper allows for a fluidity of line. This not only captures the dynamism of the scene but also invites contemplation on the narratives of compassion and divine justice.