St Antony of Padua kneeling with the Christ Child in his arms while the Virgin and angels appear in the sky 1729 - 1804

This drawing by Italian artist Pietro Antonio Novelli depicts the Saint Anthony of Padua holding the Christ Child in his arms. The Virgin Mary appears above, surrounded by clouds and two angels. The saint kneels, the child resting on his arm as if offering the young Jesus to the Virgin. The drawing is a preparatory work for a larger painting, possibly an altarpiece, and demonstrates Novelli's skilled draughtsmanship, which is typical of the Rococo period.