Design for a Reliquary with the Beheading of a Saint 1695 - 1705

This 'Design for a Reliquary with the Beheading of a Saint' is an anonymous drawing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The artist created it using pen and brown ink with gray wash. The composition emphasizes symmetry and balance. The elaborate, curvilinear forms of the reliquary are meticulously rendered. Its ornamental details create a visual rhythm that draws the eye across the surface. This highly decorative design appears to be influenced by the Baroque style. A style that is characterized by dynamism and ornate detailing. Note how the cherubic figures flank the central scene of the saint's beheading. This juxtaposition of innocence and violence prompts reflection on themes of martyrdom and faith. The drawing functions as a proposal. A proposal where the reliquary becomes a site of visual and spiritual contemplation through its careful articulation of form, symbol, and space.