The Infant St. John the Baptist
1618-82
Murillo captures a tender, almost playful moment between the young John the Baptist and his symbolic lamb in this loose, expressive Baroque drawing. The child, leaning casually against the fluffy animal while clutching a reed cross, looks directly at the viewer with an innocent, slightly melancholic gaze. Unlike his grand, polished religious canvases, this sketch reveals the artist's quick, spontaneous hand, using dramatic shadows to bring the rocky landscape to life. It's a charming glimpse into how a master of the Spanish Golden Age worked out his ideas before committing them to canvas.