A pope consecrating a bishop: study for a lunette 1552 - 1627

"A Pope Consecrating a Bishop: Study for a Lunette" is a drawing by the Italian artist Giovanni Battista Ricci, executed between 1552 and 1627. This preparatory sketch, now housed at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, depicts a ceremonial scene of a pope bestowing a bishop’s blessing, likely intended for a larger lunette, a semi-circular architectural feature found above doors and windows. The drawing showcases Ricci's adeptness in capturing the solemnity and grandeur of religious ceremony, with meticulous attention to the figures’ attire and the architectural surroundings. The study's delicate lines and nuanced shading, characteristic of Italian Mannerism, highlight the artist's skill in rendering volume and depth.