The Descent into Limbo 1436 - 1470

Andrea Mantegna's "The Descent into Limbo" (c. 1436-1470) is a pen-and-ink drawing that depicts the moment when Christ descends into Hell to free the righteous souls. The composition features Christ emerging from a cave-like entrance, followed by Adam and Eve, while a figure carrying a cross stands to the right. The dramatic chiaroscuro and elongated figures are characteristic of Mantegna's style, which was influenced by the classical art of ancient Rome. This drawing, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a powerful testament to Mantegna's skill as a draftsman and his understanding of the human form.