Holy Family with an Angel
mid-late 1590s
Captured in a circular composition known as a tondo, this early sketch by a young Guido Reni shows a tender moment within the Holy Family. Created in the late 1590s when the artist was just starting his career, the drawing depicts Mary cradling the Christ Child, with Joseph looking on from the left and an angel observing from the right. The energetic, scratchy lines reveal Reni's rapid hand as he worked out the poses, likely as a study for a larger painting. Despite being a quick sketch, the emotional warmth and classical balance already hint at the elegance that would make him a star of the Baroque era.
- Technique
- Pen and ink drawing
- Material
- Paper
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