ticketsMember | Make a donation

Studies of the Christ Child

1513–14
Not on view
This animated sheet of studies done from a live model may be dated about 1513–14, to Raphael's mature years in Rome, when his artistic vocabulary focused on the sculptural monumentality of form and the dramatic effect of lighting as compositional devices. At this point in his dazzling career at the papal court, Raphael produced some of his most accomplished drawings in red and black chalks to fulfill his numerous commissions, many of them for paintings of the Madonna and Child.



The medium of chalk, which enables a soft blending of the individual strokes by rubbing with the fingers or a cloth to achieve delicately uniform shadows, was uniquely suited to Raphael's explorations of tone. Here, the artist gives a breathtaking rendition of the infant's dimpled flesh. The Metropolitan Museum study was preparatory for a composition of the Holy Family with the Infant Saint John, known from two painted versions largely executed by Raphael's close assistants (Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum and Rome, Galleria Borghese). In this study, one of Raphael's main concerns was to explore the naturalistic movement of the Christ Child's pose. In the final paintings, Christ provides the compositional link among the holy figures, for he stands on his mother's lap and reaches to the boy Saint John the Baptist, who is meant to be kneeling on the left.



(Carmen C. Bambach, 2006)

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Studies of the Christ Child
  • Artist: Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi) (Italian, Urbino 1483–1520 Rome)
  • Date: 1513–14
  • Medium: Red chalk
  • Dimensions: Sheet: 8 5/8 x 6 9/16 in. (22 x 16.7 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Florence B. Selden Bequest, 1997
  • Object Number: 1997.75
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Lucretia, Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi) Italian, Pen and brown ink over black chalk, partially incised with a stylus (recto); rubbed with black chalk for transfer (verso)
Lucretia
Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio or Santi)
1508–10
Studies for the Libyan Sibyl (recto); Studies for the Libyan Sibyl and a small Sketch for a Seated Figure (verso), Michelangelo Buonarroti Italian, Red chalk, with small accents of white chalk on the left shoulder of the figure in the main study (recto); soft black chalk, or less probably charcoal (verso)
Studies for the Libyan Sibyl (recto); Studies for the Libyan Sibyl and a small Sketch for a Seated Figure (verso)
Michelangelo Buonarroti
ca. 1510–11
Three Standing Figures (recto); Seated Woman and a Male Hermit in Half-length (verso), Stefano da Verona (Stefano di Giovanni d'Arbosio di Francia) Italian, Pen and brown ink, over traces of charcoal or black chalk (recto); pen and brown ink, brush with touches of brown wash, over traces of charcoal or black chalk (verso)
Three Standing Figures (recto); Seated Woman and a Male Hermit in Half-length (verso)
Stefano da Verona (Stefano di Giovanni d'Arbosio di Francia)
1435–38
The Head of the Virgin in Three-Quarter View Facing Right, Leonardo da Vinci Italian, Black chalk, charcoal, and red chalk, with some traces of white chalk (?); some remains of framing lines in pen and brown ink at upper right (not by Leonardo)
The Head of the Virgin in Three-Quarter View Facing Right
Leonardo da Vinci
1510–13
Jupiter and Juno: Study for the "Furti di Giove" Tapestries, Perino del Vaga (Pietro Buonaccorsi) Italian, Pen and dark brown ink, brush and brown and gray wash, highlighted with white gouache
Jupiter and Juno: Study for the "Furti di Giove" Tapestries
Perino del Vaga (Pietro Buonaccorsi)
ca. 1532–35

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.