Tre kvindeskikkelser. Studie efter Guido Renis freske i Cappella dell' Annunciazione, Palazzo Quirinale, Rom. (Marias fødsel, højre side) 1671 - 1738

This is Hendrik Krock's chalk drawing, made as a study of Guido Reni's fresco in the Palazzo Quirinale in Rome. Krock captures three female figures attending the birth of the Virgin Mary. Note the downward gaze shared by these women; it speaks volumes. Consider its ancient roots—a motif of modesty and contemplation found in depictions of goddesses and nymphs across classical antiquity. It embodies both the physical act of attending to the newborn and the inner world of reflection. This motif echoes through time. We see similar gestures in medieval depictions of the Annunciation, where Mary's lowered eyes signify her acceptance of divine will. Such a gesture becomes a conduit, linking personal emotion and divine decree. The emotional weight of the scene—the tenderness, anticipation, and quiet reverence—engages us on a subconscious level. The non-linear, cyclical progression of this symbol resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings in different historical contexts.