St John the Baptist as a child ministered to by angels (?) 1660s

This red chalk drawing by the Italian Baroque painter Mattia Preti, dated to the 1660s, depicts a scene from the life of St John the Baptist. The drawing depicts St John as a child, attended to by angels. This preparatory sketch, measuring 270 mm x 251 mm, is a testament to Preti's meticulous process and captures the dynamic energy of his artistic style. The delicate lines and subtle shading of the red chalk create a sense of movement and ethereal beauty, inviting viewers to contemplate the divine intervention in St John's life. This drawing is currently housed in the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen.