Virgin Bowing to Instruments of the Passion 

Pierre Brebiette's etching, "Virgin Bowing to Instruments of the Passion," depicts the Virgin Mary in a gesture of mourning, her head bowed over her hands. Two cherubs flank her; one weeps and holds a crown of thorns, the other gazes up to the heavens, where a dove is visible through the clouds. The scene is set on a rocky landscape, strewn with tools and instruments of Christ’s Passion, including a hammer, nails, and a scourge. Brebiette uses dramatic lighting and a strong sense of depth to enhance the emotional impact of the composition. This piece showcases Brebiette's skills in etching, a printmaking technique popularized in the 17th century.