Study of the Virgin and Child 1640 - 1655

This red chalk and black chalk drawing, "Study of the Virgin and Child" by Cornelis Schut (1597-1655) is a preparatory study for a larger painting. The drawing shows a figure study of the Christ child, sitting on a drapery, with the outline of the Virgin Mary drawn in behind him. This work is a study of the human form and drapery, and is an example of Schut's masterful draughtsmanship, known for its precise detail and sensitivity. The drawing is now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.