Sheet of Sketches: Groups of Figures n.d.

This sheet of sketches was made by Antoine Pierre Mongin, with pencil on paper. Note the recurring motif of figures supporting or mourning a fallen body. This arrangement is reminiscent of the Pietà, a classic symbol in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead Christ. The Pietà embodies themes of grief, compassion, and sacrifice. This motif is not confined to Christian iconography; variations appear across cultures and eras. Consider the ancient Greek depictions of mourners surrounding a fallen warrior, or the Egyptian scenes of goddesses lamenting the death of Osiris. The shared emotional language of these images suggests a deep-seated human response to loss and empathy. The arrangement of bodies in Mongin’s sketches conveys a powerful sense of collective sorrow, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. This non-linear progression of shared mourning resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.