Study of scene design for "Princess Maleine" 1913

This is a charcoal drawing by Nicholas Roerich, created in 1913, entitled *Study of scene design for "Princess Maleine"*. This drawing was intended to serve as a design for the play "Princess Maleine" by Maurice Maeterlinck, written in 1889, and it is a beautiful example of Roerich's stage design work. The drawing depicts a dramatic, almost gothic setting featuring large stone arches and columns, a single, robed figure, and a small, ornate structure in the distance. This drawing captures the essence of the play through the use of shadow and light and is a perfect example of Roerich's artistic genius.