Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist and three other Saints 1600 - 1700

This anonymous drawing, likely created between 1600 and 1700, depicts the Madonna and Child enthroned in the clouds, surrounded by saints. The composition features a dynamic interplay of figures, with Saint John the Baptist pointing towards the Virgin Mary while other saints look up in reverence. The artist's use of hatching and shading creates a sense of depth and volume, adding to the overall dramatic effect. The drawing, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a testament to the Italian Renaissance fascination with religious subjects and the power of line to convey emotion.