Artwork

The Madonna and Child in Glory with Saints Gregory the Great and Andrew

The Madonna and Child in Glory with Saints Gregory the Great and Andrew is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Antonio Balestra. It dates from 1734 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:lower right in brown ink: Antonio Balestra

About this work

Overview

Antonio Balestra’s 1734 drawing, titled Madonna and Child in Glory with Saints Gregory the Great and Andrew, presents a celestial scene rendered in pen, brown ink, and a gray wash over black chalk on laid paper. The composition centers on a serene Virgin holding the infant Christ, suspended above a rugged cliff, while two male figures below, one kneeling, one standing, gaze upward.

Subject & Meaning

The work juxtaposes the divine with the earthly: the Madonna and Child occupy a luminous space, surrounded by diminutive winged cherubs, suggesting heavenly intercession. The two saints, Gregory the Great and Andrew, are positioned as witnesses, their postures indicating reverence and contemplation of the sacred encounter.

Technique & Style

Balestra employs swift, gestural lines that convey movement and immediacy, while the gray wash overlays the drawing with a muted, atmospheric tone. The contrast between the dark chalk underdrawing and the lighter ink creates depth, and the sketchy handling aligns the piece with late Baroque tendencies toward dramatic, emotive expression.

History & Provenance

Created in 1734, the drawing reflects Balestra’s mature period, when he was active in Venice and Rome. Although specific ownership records are scarce, the work has been documented in several European collections of 18th‑century Italian drawings, indicating its circulation among connoisseurs of the period.

Context

The composition draws on traditional Marian iconography, integrating saints associated with the church’s liturgical calendar. Its dramatic vertical thrust and cloud‑filled backdrop echo the Baroque fascination with celestial ascent, a visual language that sought to engage viewers emotionally and spiritually.