The Clergy of Rome Paying Homage to St. Gregory after His Investiture
18th century
Medium
Pen and brown ink, brush and brown and gray wash, heightened with white, over traces of graphite.
Dimensions
7 11/16 x 5 1/2 in. (19.5 x 14 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Harry G. Sperling Fund, 1977
Accession Number
1977.416c
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the opulent world of 18th-century French Rococo art, Carle (Charles André) Vanloo crafted *The Clergy of Rome Paying Homage to. Gregory after His Invest*, a delicate preparatory drawing that captures a moment of papal reverence. Vanloo, a leading figure in the Rococo movement known for its graceful figures and theatrical drama, depicts the clergy kneeling before St. Gregory—likely Pope Gregory the Great—following his investiture, surrounded by crosses and saintly icons. This scene evokes the grandeur of Catholic ritual, blending historical piety with the era's elegant flourish. Executed in...