Saint Hyacinth Walking on the Waters
1599
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash
Dimensions
9 1/8 x 5 13/16in. (23.2 x 14.7cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Harry G. Sperling, 1971
Accession Number
1975.131.55
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Saint Hyacinth Walking on the Waters** (1599) is a captivating preparatory drawing by Francesco Vanni, a Sienese artist of the late Mannerist (1563–1610). Vanni, known for his elegant religious scenes blending Florentine and Bolognese influences, depicts the miracle of Saint Hyac of Poland—a 13th-century Dominican saint walks across turbulent waters, saving a statue of the Virgin Mary. Created at the cusp of the 17th century, this work reflects the Catholic Church's emphasis on miraculous saints during the Counter-Reformation, evoking faith and divine intervention. Executed in pen and brown...