Virgin and Child in Glory Worshipped by Two Monk Saints

Art Historical Context

Bernardo Strozzi, a 17th-century Genoese painter known asil Prete Genovese" (the Genoese Priest) for his early monastic life as a Capuchin fri, created this exquisite drawing titled *Virgin and Child in Glory Worshipped by Monk Saints*. Rendered in red chalk with brush and wash on tan laid paper, intimate 26.4 × 17.3 cm sheet captures a heavenly vision of the Madonna and Christ Child enthroned amid radiant glory, adored by two monk saints below. This devotional theme resonates with the Baroque era's emphasis on emotional piety during the Counter-Reformation. Strozzi's mastery shines in his fluid use of red chalk, prized for its warm, flesh-like tones that allow subtle modeling of forms and drapery. The addition of brush and wash heightens dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, evoking the theatrical lighting of his oil paintings influenced by Rubens and Venetian masters. As a preparatory study in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings collection, it reveals the artist's process, blending Genoa's robust realism with ethereal spirituality. This undated work exemplifies Strozzi's versatility across media, offering visitors a glimpse into 17th-century Italian draftsmanship's role in bridging sketch to grand altarpiece, inviting contemplation of faith's visual splendor.

About the Artist

Bernardo Strozzi · 1581–1644

Strozzi was one of the most influential painters in Italy during the early 17th century, particularly in Genoa and Venice. His powerful and painterly religious works, genre scenes, and portraits are distinguished by their rich, glowing color and broad, energetic brushstrokes. Comment on works: Still Life; Religious; Portraits