Design for a processional banner with a Pietà under an elaborate altar architecture in the form of a triumphal arch and part of the border design at upper right 1556 - 1629

Here is a drawing made by an anonymous artist that pictures a design for a processional banner, rendered in pen and brown ink. The artwork depicts the Pietà – a representation of the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus – set within an elaborate, triumphal arch. During the late Middle Ages and Renaissance, the image of the Pietà became a powerful symbol of grief, compassion, and, perhaps most significantly, the maternal bond. It provided an opportunity for emotional identification, particularly for women, within the religious narrative. Mary’s sorrow becomes a mirror reflecting the viewer’s own experiences of loss. It's fascinating to consider how the display of such banners, especially in public processions, shaped communal feelings. This design underscores the intersection of personal mourning and public expression, and how religious art offers a lens through which society processes complex emotions.