Virgin and Child on Clouds with Kneeling Male Saint (recto); Sketch of Two Female Figures (verso) n.d.

This pen and brown ink drawing depicts the Virgin and Child on clouds, with a kneeling male saint. The image presents a hierarchy, reflecting the social structures of its time. The Virgin Mary, holding the Christ child, floats above a kneeling saint. This composition reinforces the Church’s authority and the saint’s reverence for divine power. The sketch may have been a preparatory study for a larger religious painting intended for a church or private chapel. The lack of a known artist and precise date invites speculation. Religious imagery was a powerful tool in early modern Europe. Artists often worked under the patronage of the Church or wealthy individuals, so the social and economic context heavily influenced their artistic output. To fully understand this drawing, we must research the religious practices, artistic conventions, and patronage systems of the time. The resources available in institutional archives can further illuminate the meaning and function of this artwork within its specific social and historical context.