Madonna and Child 1600 - 1700

This anonymous 17th-century drawing depicts the Madonna and Child in a tender embrace. The work is executed in brown ink on paper and features a delicate, yet detailed, style typical of the period. The Virgin Mary is seated, holding the Christ child close, their gazes locked in a moment of shared intimacy. The drawing's small size (8-3/8 x 6-7/8 inches) and intimate subject matter suggest a devotional purpose, perhaps for private contemplation. This piece, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the artistic sensibilities and religious devotion of the 17th century.