Saint Benedict Receiving a Warrior (recto); Sketch of Crowded Narrative Scene (verso) 1600 - 1700

This anonymous 17th-century drawing depicts a scene from the life of Saint Benedict, likely the moment he receives a warrior seeking his guidance. The drawing is executed in pen and ink, and shows the saint in the center, attended by figures in a crowded setting. The use of light lines in the composition and its quick, expressive nature are characteristic of preliminary drawings made in preparation for a larger artwork. This piece, on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a fascinating example of an artist's preparatory work.