Male Saint in Ecstasy 1600 - 1700

This 17th-century red chalk drawing depicts a male saint in a state of ecstasy, a common theme in Baroque art. Surrounded by angels and a dove, the saint is depicted with his eyes closed, as if in a trance. The drawing is executed in a realistic style with a focus on the saint's expressive features and flowing drapery, characteristic of the Baroque period. The small oval format of the drawing suggests it may have been intended as a preparatory study for a larger painting.