Saint Charles Borromeo Supervising the Opening of a Crypt c. 1604

Cesare Nebbia’s drawing, *Saint Charles Borromeo Supervising the Opening of a Crypt*, depicts a scene from the life of the influential Catholic Saint Charles Borromeo. The drawing is a preparatory study for a larger painting, which was likely never realized. This detailed drawing, in pen and brown ink, is a prime example of the preparatory drawings often created by artists before executing a final work, particularly in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The drawing shows the saint, surrounded by followers, watching as a man uses a lever to pry open a crypt. The detailed composition and the use of light and shadow give a sense of depth and realism to the scene. The drawing, now in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offers a glimpse into the process of the artist and the complexities of Renaissance religious art.