Two studies of a woman with a child and one of the head of a woman 1710 - 1780

Francesco La Marra made this drawing, "Two studies of a woman with a child and one of the head of a woman" with pencil. We know that La Marra lived and worked in Naples, Italy during the height of the Neapolitan School. Here, we see the artist working out compositions and motifs related to motherhood. It's clear that La Marra is interested in the relationships between mother and child, how the figures support and embrace each other. The drawing is reminiscent of the visual codes used in religious paintings of the Madonna and Child that were very popular in Naples at the time. Yet this is not, as far as we know, a preparatory drawing for a religious painting. Instead, it seems that La Marra is interested in using established artistic traditions to explore real-world relationships and themes. As art historians, we can look to sources such as letters, journals, and other documents to learn more about the social context in which La Marra created this moving drawing.