Thronende Madonna mit Kind mit drei Heiligen, unter ihnen Antonius Abbas 

Filippo Abbiati made this pen and brown ink and wash drawing of the Madonna and Child with Saints in seventeenth-century Italy. Its focus on religious iconography is typical of art made during this time. This drawing is particularly interesting for what it tells us about the institutions of art. The drawing is made using traditional techniques, but its loose style suggests that it might be a preparatory sketch rather than a finished artwork. Although Italian society was deeply religious, by the seventeenth century the institutions that commissioned art, such as the church, were losing power. As a result, artists became more independent, making sketches and studies that allowed them to experiment and explore their own creativity. To fully understand this drawing, it would be helpful to research the history of artistic training in Italy during the 1600s, and the patronage system that supported artists at this time. By looking at art in its social and institutional context, we can gain a deeper appreciation of its meaning and significance.