The Madonna making a gesture of intercession 1625 - 1715

Carlo Maratti rendered this drawing of the Madonna making a gesture of intercession with red chalk. Note how the red chalk both defines and softens the figure. It gives structure to the folds of her drapery while simultaneously rendering her form with a gentle, almost ethereal quality. The composition guides your eye upward, beginning with the complex layering of her hands and robes and rising to her face, which is tilted towards the heavens. This upward movement suggests a visual echo of intercession, reaching towards the divine. Maratti uses line and shadow to create a sense of depth. This interplay suggests a world of complex meaning, a world in which we must constantly interpret the signs around us. The drawing then is not just a devotional image, but an invitation to engage with a deeper, more complex understanding of faith and representation.