Sts Antony, Jerome and Bernardino kneeling, with the Virgin and the infant Christ surrounded by child angels beyond 1548 - 1628

Jacopo Palma the Younger created this pen and brown ink drawing, depicting Sts Antony, Jerome, and Bernardino with the Virgin and child, sometime between 1546 and 1628. The composition is divided into two distinct registers, with the saints kneeling below and the Virgin and child floating above, surrounded by cherubic figures. Notice how the use of wash creates a strong contrast between light and shadow, giving the figures a sculptural quality. This chiaroscuro effect serves to emphasize the drama of the scene. Palma skillfully employs line to define form and space. The use of hatching and cross-hatching creates depth and texture, especially noticeable in the robes of the saints and the swirling clouds that support the Virgin. The composition balances earthly supplication with divine grace. The sketch invites us to consider the interplay between the sacred and the human, and the formal elements contribute to this exploration of faith.