Maria met kind en H. Johannes 1635 - 1645

This delicate drawing, "Maria met kind en H. Johannes" (Mary with Child and St. John the Baptist), is a preliminary sketch by renowned landscape painter Claude Lorrain, created between 1635 and 1645. This piece exemplifies Lorrain's skill in figure drawing, despite his primary focus on landscape painting. The composition depicts a simple scene of Mary holding the Christ Child, with St. John the Baptist kneeling before them. Despite its small size, Lorrain's masterful use of line conveys a sense of depth and emotion, typical of his artistic approach. The drawing is now preserved at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.