Holy Family with Saints
Medium
Pen and black ink, with brush and brown wash, and black chalk, on ivory laid paper, tipped on brownish-tan wove paper
Dimensions
20.2 × 27.4 cm (8 × 10 13/16 in.)
Classification
pen and ink drawings
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
85275
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Francesco Solimena’s *Holy Family with Saints* is a delicate work on paper that captures a timeless religious subject through layered drawing techniques. Created with pen and black ink, brush and brown wash, and black chalk on ivory laid paper, the drawing measures just 20.2 by 27.4 centimeters. These combined media allow the artist to achieve both precise linear definition and soft tonal modeling, giving the figures a sense of volume and gentle movement within a compact format. The artwork’s presentation—tipped onto a secondary sheet of brownish-tan wove paper—reflects traditional methods of preserving and studying works on paper. Such drawings often served as preparatory studies, enabling artists to explore composition, light, and expression before committing to larger paintings or frescoes. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Prints and Drawings department, this piece offers visitors an intimate glimpse into the creative process behind religious imagery that once adorned churches and private chapels across Europe. Though undated, the drawing’s refined handling of ink and wash highlights Solimena’s skill in conveying narrative depth on a small scale. Its presence in a major museum collection underscores the enduring value of works on paper as both independent artworks and essential records of artistic thought.
About the Artist
Francesco Solimena · 1657–1747
Comment on works: History; Religious