Beheading of a Female Saint
n.d.
Medium
Pen and black ink, over traces of black chalk, on blue-gray laid paper, squared in black ink
Dimensions
25.5 × 36.9 cm (10 1/16 × 14 9/16 in.)
Classification
drawings (visual works)
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
95875
Art Historical Context
In the Prints and Drawings collection of the Art Institute of resides this poignant drawing, *Beheading of a Female*, created by an unknown artist. Measuring 25.5 × 36.9 cm, it captures a dramatic moment of martyrdom, a recurring theme in Christian iconography that underscores themes of faith, sacrifice, and divine endurance. Such scenes were popular in European religious art, evoking empathy and spiritual reflection for viewers across centuries. Executed in pen and black ink over subtle traces of black chalk on-gray laid paper, the work showcases meticulous draftsmanship. The initial chalk u...