Studies of the Virgin and Child
Three pen-and-ink sheets of a mother and infant, with separate child studies
Three small pen-and-ink sheets, mounted together, each exploring a mother (the Virgin) with the infant Christ. At upper left the Virgin holds the standing Child against her, while a second nude infant is sketched striding away at the far left. At upper right she kneels to embrace the Child, with a separate study of a curly-haired child's head in profile set beside them. The lower sheet shows the Virgin seated on the ground, bending over the child in her lap with her legs stretched out; throughout, the figures are worked up in fine pen hatching and light brown wash, and each sheet carries the Uffizi collection stamp.
On this page
Virgin holding the standing Child, with a striding infant at left
The upper-left sheet groups a seated or standing Virgin supporting the nude Child, who stands and raises a hand. At the far left a second infant is drawn from behind, striding, as an independent motion study. Drapery over the Virgin's lap is indicated with washed folds.
Virgin kneeling to embrace the Child; separate head of a child
In the upper-right sheet the Virgin kneels and leans forward to clasp the standing Child, who reaches up to her. To the right, detached from the group, is a rounded study of a curly-haired child's head seen in profile, examined on its own.
Virgin seated on the ground bending over the child
The lower sheet shows the Virgin seated low on the ground, her legs extended to the right, bending protectively over the child cradled in her lap. Broad brown wash models the drapery and gives weight to the seated pose.