Saint Luke Holding a Painting of the Virgin and Child 1648 - 1729

Marcantonio Franceschini's "Saint Luke Holding a Painting of the Virgin and Child" is a 17th-century drawing that depicts the patron saint of artists, Luke, holding a painting of the Virgin Mary and the Christ child. The drawing, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a study for a larger painting. The artist's use of delicate hatching lines conveys the volume of Luke's form and the folds of his garments, while the depiction of a portrait within a portrait emphasizes the theme of art and faith.