Flying Figure Appearing before an Enthroned Figure 1662 - 1728

Paolo de Matteis created this red chalk drawing, "Flying Figure Appearing before an Enthroned Figure", in the late 17th or early 18th century. It exemplifies the visual codes of Baroque art, which often served the interests of both the Catholic Church and the European aristocratic elite. The image shows a divine visitation, full of dynamic energy and dramatic contrast. The sketch was likely preparatory, guiding the composition of a more finished painting. Matteis was Neapolitan, and religious subjects like this were in high demand in the Kingdom of Naples, which at the time was under the control of the Spanish Habsburgs. These patrons used art to project an image of power and piety. Matteis was trained in Rome, and later became a court painter, so his artistic formation reflects specific institutional settings and political forces. Careful art historical research, studying the patronage and political functions of art, helps us to understand the social role of images like this.