The Blessed Egidius (Cartoon for a Fresco in chapel at S. Maria degli Angeli, Assisi)
Medium
Charcoal or black chalk; outlines pricked and pounced for transfer
Dimensions
15 5/16 x 9 5/8 in. (38.9 x 24.4 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Leon D. and Debra R. Black Gift, Harry G. Sperling Fund, Roy R. and Marie S. Neuberger Foundation Inc. Gift, and The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 2002
Accession Number
2002.432
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the early 16th century, artist Lo Spagna (Giovanni di), a prominent figure in the Umbrian school follower of Perugino, *The Blessed Egidius as a preparatory cartoon for a fresco in the at S. Maria deglieli in Assisi. This drawing depicts the Blessed Egidius (Giles of Assisi), devoted companion of St. Francis for his humility and mystical visions, captured in a serene profile that evokes quiet sanctity. Dating to 1514–16, it reflects the Renaissance emphasis on religious devotion amid Italy's vibrant Franciscan heritage—Assisi being the spiritual heartland of St. Francis's order. Crafted in...