The Miracle of the Santa Casa of Loreto (recto) c. 1700
pietroantoniodepietri
minneapolisinstituteofart
drawing
drawing
toned paper
charcoal drawing
possibly oil pastel
oil painting
fluid art
coffee painting
underpainting
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
italy
watercolor
This drawing by Pietro Antonio de' Pietri depicts the "Miracle of the Santa Casa of Loreto," a popular subject in Italian Baroque art. The drawing depicts the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus being carried into the air by angels, a reference to the legend that the house in Loreto, Italy, was transported there miraculously. The dynamic composition and expressive figures are typical of Baroque drawing, and the use of brown ink creates a sense of depth and movement. This artwork is held by the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Comments
The successful Roman painter Pietro Antonio de’ Pietri was a celebrated draftsman. In this drawing, de’ Pietri represents the miracle of the Holy House of Loreto. According to legend, the ancient house of the Virgin Mary and Joseph was brought by angels from Nazareth to the Italian town of Loreto in 1291 when it was under threat of destruction by the Saracens who were driving the Crusaders out of the Holy Land. The Santa Casa shrine is an important Catholic pilgrimage site. De’ Pietri’s bravura is on full display in this double-sided sheet, which employs two very distinct manners. On the recto, his handling of the pen and brush is expressive and use of wash is bold, employed to represent the energy of the fluttering choir of angels and miraculous flickering light around the Virgin and Child. On the verso, in contrast, de’ Pietri represents the figures with exacting pen and ink lines and crosshatching to create the illusion of three-dimensions on the flat sheet of paper.
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
CollectMore like this
