Saint John at the Foot of the Cross

Art Historical Context

This delicate drawing captures Saint John the Evangelist in moment of profound sorrow at Crucifixion, subject that resonated deeply with Renaissance audiences seeking emotional connection to biblical narratives. Created around 1460–1470 by the Florentine artist Maso Finiguerra, the work reflects the early Renaissance interest in expressive human figures and intimate devotional imagery. Its small scale—just over four inches tall—suggests it may have served as a personal study or design for a larger altarpiece, print, or decorative object. Finiguerra employed pen and brown ink with subtle brown...