Christ in Glory with Saint Lawrence, Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, and Saint Eligius. 1761 - 1771

Ubaldo Gandolfi created this study in pen and brown ink wash, likely in the 1760s or 70s, in preparation for a larger altarpiece. The preparatory process reveals as much as the finished painting might. Here, Gandolfi worked out his composition, including the figures of Saint Lawrence, Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, and Saint Eligius, all gathered below a vision of Christ in Glory. Notice the quick, assured strokes of the pen, the delicate washes bringing depth and shadow to the figures. Each line and shade is meticulously considered, creating a sense of movement and light that draws the viewer's eye upwards toward the divine. It is intriguing to see Saint Eligius, patron saint of metalworkers, included in this heavenly scene. His presence reminds us that even the most elevated spiritual visions are grounded in the material world, in human labor, and in the skills passed down through generations of artisans. Gandolfi bridges the realms of craft and fine art, inviting us to consider how the tangible and the transcendent are intertwined.