The Circumcision

Art Historical Context

In the grand tradition of 17th-century Italian Baroque art, Cirori's *The Circumcision* (ca. 1634–1689) captures a pivotal moment from the Gospel of Luke: the ritual circumcision of the infant Jesus on his eighth day, attended by the Virgin Mary and. Ferri, a gifted pupil of Pietro da Cortona, was renowned for his dynamic frescoes and preparatory drawings that bridged painting and sculpture through vivid figural energy. This intimate scene, enriched with putti (playful cherubs) and male figures, reflects the Counter-Reformation's emphasis on emotional devotion and sacred narrative, inviting viewers to contemplate Christ's humanity. Executed as a masterful study drawing, the work employs pen and brown ink for precise contours, brush and brown wash for shadowy depths, and white gouache highlights over black chalk on light brown paper—creating dramatic chiaroscuro effects that mimic the play of light in grand altarpieces. At 14 7/16 x 9 7/16 inches, its compact scale belies the monumental style Ferri brought to Roman and Florentine commissions, showcasing his skill in modeling forms with theatrical volume. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Donald P. Gurney, 1991), this piece exemplifies how Baroque draftsmen like Ferri used such techniques to refine compositions for larger works, offering museum visitors a window into the creative process behind opulent religious art that once adorned Europe's churches.

About the Artist

Ciro Ferri · 1634–1689

Ciro Ferri (1634–1689) was an Italian Baroque painter and engraver who served as the principal artistic heir and studio assistant of Pietro da Cortona, the dominant decorative painter of seventeenth-century Rome. Born in Rome, Ferri entered Cortona's workshop as a young man and proved so skilled that he became the master's most trusted collaborator, eventually taking over the completion of major c...