Madonna and Child n.d.

Carlo Maratti made this drawing of the Madonna and Child with pen and brown ink, likely as a preliminary study. The visible characteristics of the materials give us insight into its making. You can see how Maratti built up form and volume with closely spaced hatching lines. Brown ink on paper is a traditional combination, humble enough, but in Maratti’s skilled hand, it evokes the great masters of the Renaissance. His rapid, confident lines suggest a mind working quickly, capturing the fleeting pose of mother and child. Consider, though, the social context. Maratti was a hugely successful, even celebrated, artist in his day, and drawings like this were produced in his studio. They are the product of many hands. So we should recognize this drawing not only as a demonstration of individual artistic genius, but also as the output of a busy workshop. Focusing on materials, making, and context allows us to appreciate both the artist's skill and the broader creative ecosystem in which he operated.