Birth of the Virgin n.d.

This anonymous brown wash drawing, titled “Birth of the Virgin”, depicts the moment of Mary's birth. A group of women, likely her family, are present as she is born. One woman is holding the baby, another is helping to catch her, and a third is standing behind the scene. The drawing’s focus on the event itself and the realistic portrayal of the women present are indicative of the artist's understanding of Renaissance art, and the subject of the drawing relates to the tradition of depicting the life of Mary in Renaissance religious art. The artwork is now on view at The Art Institute of Chicago.