David and the Patriarchs with a Donor c. 1613

Giovanni Battista Maganza II made this pen and brown ink drawing called, David and the Patriarchs with a Donor, sometime between the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Maganza, who lived and worked in Vicenza, Italy, was deeply immersed in the cultural and religious fervor of the late Renaissance. This sketch offers a window into the religious and social dynamics of the era. The artist renders Old Testament figures, and includes a portrait of a contemporary donor – who would have paid for the work. The visual hierarchy suggests the importance of the patron within the sacred narrative. Note how David and the patriarchs are depicted with individualized expressions and gestures, while the donor, positioned lower, appears more reserved. Consider the role of patronage in shaping artistic production during this time, and how artists navigated the expectations of their patrons while expressing their own creative visions. This drawing invites us to consider the complex interplay between faith, power, and artistic expression in Renaissance Italy.