Study for the "Madonna della Scodella" [recto]

Correggio

1524

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

About this work

This sketch shows a woman holding a baby while a kneeling man reaches toward them. Behind them, a large tree with a round, cloud-filled sky frames the scene. The lines are loose and quick, with soft browns and reds blending into the paper. The drawing feels like a quick practice—almost like a doodle—before a bigger painting. The artist used ink and chalk to test shapes and poses. Next, look up Correggio to see how he turned these sketches into finished works.