The Visitation of Mary 

This drawing in pen and wash, The Visitation of Mary, was made by Michel Corneille the Younger. Corneille was a painter, etcher and draughtsman, and a member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, the premier art institution in France. This sketch depicts the biblical scene of Mary visiting her relative Elizabeth. What can an art historian say about this image? Well, drawings like this, with their religious subject matter, were often made in preparation for larger paintings. The sketch allowed the artist to work out a composition, and demonstrate his abilities to prospective clients. Religious institutions were a major source of patronage for artists in France during the 17th century, and the Royal Academy played an important role in shaping the style and subject matter of their work. To understand this image further, scholars consult sources from the time, such as religious texts, Academy records, and the biographies of artists like Corneille. In this way we gain a clearer idea of the image’s place in French culture.