The Infant Saint John the Baptist with the Infant Christ in the Wilderness (recto); Fragment of Architectural Design with Engaged Corinthian Columns (verso) 1695 - 1705

Pedro Duque Cornejo made this pen and brown ink drawing of the Infant Saint John the Baptist with the Infant Christ sometime in the early 18th century. Produced in Spain, this artwork reflects the enduring influence of religious themes in Spanish art and culture. It taps into the deep well of Catholic iconography, portraying a meeting between the young Jesus and John the Baptist, a popular subject during the Counter-Reformation when the Catholic Church used art to reaffirm its doctrines. The loose sketch-like quality might suggest this was a preparatory drawing. Artists in academic institutions would have made drawings like this as part of their training. Alternatively, the architecture on the reverse side suggests it could have been connected to the design of a larger artwork, perhaps a sculpture or altarpiece, given Cornejo's work as a sculptor. Understanding this drawing requires examining the religious and artistic institutions of the time. Investigating period treatises on art, the records of religious orders, and the biographies of artists can reveal the complex social conditions that shaped its production.