Anbetung der Heiligen drei Könige 

Editor: Sebastiano Ricci’s “Adoration of the Magi”, held at the Städel Museum, presents the biblical scene with graphite and chalk in such delicate detail, you can almost feel the hushed reverence. What I find interesting is the loose rendering of the figures—a whirlwind of devotion, almost as if we're catching a glimpse of a memory. What stands out to you the most in this drawing? Curator: You know, when I look at it, I'm transported! It feels less like a historical recreation and more like stepping into someone's deeply held belief, a shared dream almost. Notice how the angels above swirl with an almost joyful abandon? And then, the magi, draped in fabrics rendered with such gossamer lines, appear to almost dissolve into light! This baroque sketch possesses a certain... I'd call it a celestial ethereality. But does the artist truly believe, or is he crafting something *meant* to stir faith? What do you think? Editor: That's a fantastic question! Maybe it’s both, right? He’s using the techniques of the Baroque to express something that transcends just religious doctrine. It feels like it explores faith and its impact. The loose lines could indicate uncertainty too… Curator: Exactly! Art, particularly sacred art, thrives in that liminal space, doesn’t it? Uncertainty mirroring faith itself... That delicate balance, that willingness to be moved, is the seed of belief. It seems Ricci, whether consciously or not, captured something profoundly human within this divine narrative. The history is a springboard for an emotional encounter! Editor: It definitely makes me see the sketch in a completely different, deeper light now. Thanks! Curator: And thank *you*! Every glance gives back a thousand-fold. It’s all in the sharing, truly.