Border Design with Saints
17th century
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, over traces of graphite underdrawing
Dimensions
sheet: 15 1/4 x 11 1/2 in. (38.7 x 29.2 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1950
Accession Number
50.605.44
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Border Design with Saints*, by an anonymous Italian artist in the 17th, captures the ornate spirit of Baroque-era decoration. Executed in pen and brown ink with brush and brown wash over graphite underdrawing, the sheet measures 15¼ x 11½ inches and features a intricate border populated by saints, angels, and animals. designs were often preparatory sketches for larger religious artworks, like altarpieces, manuscripts, or architectural embellishments, reflecting Italy's rich tradition of devotional art during the Counter-Reformation. The monochromatic palette of brown ink and w...