The Contest of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (I Kings 18: 20-46) 1699 - 1768

Stefano Pozzi's "The Contest of Elijah and the Prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel" (1699-1768) depicts the biblical story of the prophet Elijah challenging the priests of Baal to a contest, which culminates in the dramatic destruction of the prophets of Baal. The drawing, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcases Pozzi's skillful use of black chalk on paper to render the scene with a sense of movement and drama. The composition, with its numerous figures arranged in a dynamic grouping, effectively conveys the tension and excitement of the moment. This drawing is a fine example of Italian Baroque drawing, a genre characterized by its expressive use of line and its focus on capturing the drama and movement of religious subjects.