A Miraculous Cure by Bartolomeo Cesi

A Miraculous Cure

16th-17th century

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Artwork details

Medium
drawing, pencil
Dimensions
15 3/4 x 9 1/2 in. (40.01 x 24.13 cm) (sheet)23 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. (60.33 x 50.17 cm) (outer frame)
Location
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Copyright
Public Domain

Tags

#drawing#figuration#11_renaissance#pencil#history-painting#academic-art

About this artwork

Bartolomeo Cesi made this drawing entitled "A Miraculous Cure" with graphite on paper. In it, we see figures associated with a miraculous event, possibly a biblical healing. Made in Italy, likely in the late 16th or early 17th century, this work reflects the religious fervor of the Counter-Reformation. Cesi, trained in the Bolognese School, combines naturalism with idealized forms. Notice the grid underlying the sketch. This method was typical of the period, used to transfer drawings to a larger scale, maybe for a fresco or painting. The Catholic Church, a major patron of the arts, sought to inspire faith through visual storytelling and art became a tool for religious instruction and propaganda. Historians examine such works in the context of their religious and social functions, using archival research and comparative analysis to reveal their original meanings and purposes. This drawing testifies to the intricate relationship between art, religion, and society in early modern Italy.

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