Christ Child: Study for the Madonna di San Giovanni c. 1565

Federico Barocci created this drawing entitled 'Christ Child: Study for the Madonna di San Giovanni' using black and red chalk with pastel highlights. Barocci lived during the Catholic Counter-Reformation, a period when the church sought to reaffirm its spiritual authority through art. We can see the idealized depiction of the infant Christ, which aimed to inspire piety and reverence. The delicate rendering and soft, warm tones evoke an intimate and tender feeling. As a preparatory sketch, this drawing allowed Barocci to experiment with the composition and to capture the emotional nuances he sought to convey. The image creates a sense of intimacy, inviting viewers into a personal moment with a sacred figure. It’s a reminder of how art can be a powerful tool for shaping religious and cultural identities.