A work made of pen and brown ink, with black chalk and traces of incising, on tan laid paper, laid down on cream wove paper.

Study for 'The Dream of Saint Joseph'

1635/37

Pietro Testa Italian, 1611/12-1650

Italy

This study is the last in the sequence of three composition drawings for The Dream of Saint Joseph. It differs from the other two in the pose of the figure of the Virgin, which, along with the figure of the Christ child, Testa has cut out and attached. Such attention to detail characterizes Testa's rigorous preparatory process, and it contrasts sharply with the freedom with which he etched the plate.

Pen and brown ink, with black chalk and traces of incising, on tan laid paper, laid down on cream wove paper

Prints and Drawings