Saint Nepomuk Before the Madonna c. 18th century

Curator: Kremser-Schmidt's drawing, “Saint Nepomuk Before the Madonna,” presents a celestial vision. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The swirling composition evokes a sense of ethereal lightness. The figures almost float, unbound. Curator: As a preparatory sketch, the artist uses delicate washes to model form and space. Consider how this work reflects the cult of saints within the late Baroque period. Nepomuk, a martyr of confession, appears here elevated before the Virgin. Editor: The radiating lines around the Madonna and Child create a focal point. The semiotic weight here is really intense. Curator: Exactly. The artist uses the ethereal quality to evoke a sense of divine encounter, and the visual language of Catholicism as political currency. Editor: Indeed, and as a study, we see his process, the raw energy before it transforms into finished dogma. Curator: A glimpse into the artist's hand and the period's fervor, all in one.