The Virgin Immaculate with the Christ Child in Glory (recto); Rinaldo and Armida (verso)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite double-sided drawing by Giuseppe Passeri, a prominent Roman Baroque artist active from 1654 to 1714, showcases the dramatic flair and spiritual intensity of 17th-century Italian art. On the recto, *The Virgin Immaculate with the Christ Child in Glory* depicts the Madonna and Child elevated in heavenly splendor, surrounded by angels—a quintessential Baroque motif emphasizing divine light and emotional exaltation. Passeri, influenced by masters like Bernini and Carlo Maratta, employs pen and brown ink, red chalk, brush with red wash, and white highlights to create luminous depth and dynamic movement, evoking the ethereal glow of altarpieces. The verso features *Rinaldo and Armida*, a scene from Torquato Tasso's epic poem *Gerusalemme Liberata*, capturing the knight's enchantment by the sorceress in a swirl of passion and mythology. Executed in pen and brown ink over red chalk, it reveals Passeri's skill in narrative storytelling. Such preparatory sheets were vital in Baroque workshops, bridging sketches to grand paintings. Acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1975, this 8 15/16 x 7 5/16-inch gem highlights Passeri's versatility in religious and secular themes, blending piety with poetic drama for patrons of Rome's vibrant art scene.