Saint John and Saint Jerome (fragment from a Crucifixion) 1485 - 1505

This is a fragment of a larger work depicting the Crucifixion of Christ, with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Jerome on either side of the central figure of Christ. The drawing depicts the expressive faces and bodies of these two saints in detail. It is part of a larger composition that would have included many other figures in the scene, but it captures the emotion and drama of the moment. The work, attributed to Florentine artist Francesco Rosselli, demonstrates the characteristic linear style and attention to detail associated with Early Renaissance art. This drawing is a fine example of the use of the pen and ink medium that was favored by artists of this period. The piece is now held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.