Saint Paul Preaching in Athens c. late 16th century

This pen and ink drawing, "Saint Paul Preaching in Athens," attributed to Giovanni Battista Ricci da Novara, depicts the biblical event where Saint Paul stands before a group of Athenians to spread Christianity. The drawing, created in the late 16th century, uses a dynamic composition to depict the scene. Saint Paul is shown in the foreground, his hand raised as he delivers a powerful message to the crowd. This drawing showcases the artist's talent for capturing human figures and their gestures in detail, which is a common characteristic of Mannerism, a style that emerged in the 16th century in reaction to the High Renaissance.