Madonna and Child with Two Angels c. 1752

Joshua Reynolds sketched “Madonna and Child with Two Angels” using graphite on paper, sometime in the 18th century. Reynolds was an influential English painter, particularly known for his portraits that often alluded to classical and Renaissance art. Reynolds invokes traditional religious iconography to subtly engage with contemporary social ideals. The figures, sketched in soft graphite, embody a sense of idealized beauty and maternal tenderness, reflecting the era’s emphasis on sentimentality and the domestic role of women. The Madonna, with her serene expression, encapsulates the virtues of motherhood, while the angels add a layer of divine innocence. This drawing is not merely a religious scene, but a reflection of the 18th-century’s construction of femininity and virtue. Reynolds uses the visual language of the past to speak to his present, subtly reinforcing the cultural values of his time through the emotional resonance of the image.