Pietà (recto); Sketches of Kneeling Figures, Putto (verso)
1760–1806
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash over black chalk on light brown laid paper (recto); ruled framing outlines in pen and brown ink. Pen and brown ink, black chalk (verso)
Dimensions
5 x 6 5/8in. (12.7 x 16.9cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Cornelius Vanderbilt, 1880
Accession Number
80.3.191
Tags
Art Historical Context
Domenico Mondo's *Pietà* (recto); *Sketches of Kneeling Figures Putto* (verso), created during his active years from 1760 to 1806, exemplifies the intimate, preparatory nature of 18th-century drawings. On the recto, the poignant depiction of the Virgin Mary cradling Christ captures the timeless devotional theme of the Pietà, rendered with depth through fluid lines. The verso reveals Mondo's sketchbook spontaneity, with quick studies of kneeling figures and a playful putto, hinting at his process of exploring poses for larger compositions. Executed in pen and brown ink with brush and brown was...