Pope Blessing Nun n.d.

drawing, print, paper, ink, ink-drawings, chalk, pen, black-chalk

landscape illustration sketch

drawing

toned paper

mechanical pen drawing

print

pen sketch

pencil sketch

etching

paper

ink

ink drawing experimentation

ink-drawings

pen-ink sketch

chalk

water

pen work

pen

italy

pencil art

black-chalk

"Pope Blessing Nun" is a pen and brown ink drawing by Francesco Solimena. The artwork, located in the Art Institute of Chicago, depicts a pope seated on a raised platform while blessing a nun kneeling in front of him. The scene unfolds in a grand setting with a crowd of onlookers in the background. The drawing, a preparatory study for a larger painting, exemplifies Solimena's skill in capturing movement and drama through a dynamic composition and masterful use of light and shadow. The artwork is a valuable insight into Solimena's working process and offers a glimpse into the visual culture of the 17th and 18th centuries.