Circumcision of Christ c. 1570

This drawing, made by Bonaventura Lamberti, likely in the late 17th century, depicts the Circumcision of Christ using pen and brown ink on paper. The lines are spare, but confident, with the ink flowing smoothly across the page. The artist has not labored over the drawing; rather, it has an immediacy, as though capturing a fleeting moment. The material here—humble paper and ink—belies the profundity of the scene. Lamberti relies on the age-old tradition of drawing to depict the biblical scene with remarkable detail. The softness of the ink and paper contrasts with the harshness of the circumcision, emphasizing the vulnerability of the infant Christ. The religious act takes center stage, while the materiality of the artwork, and the artistic labor, recede into the background. Ultimately, the drawing invites us to consider the intersection of the sacred and the everyday, as well as the artist’s skill in transforming humble materials into a powerful visual narrative.