Artwork

Studies of an Apostle Guided by an Angel and the Adoration of the Shepherds

Studies of an Apostle Guided by an Angel and the Adoration of the Shepherds is a drawing by the Baroque artist Agostino Masucci. It dates from 1720 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:by later hand, lower center in pen and brown ink: Carlo Maratti; by later hand, lower right in graphite: A23760 CO; by later hand, center verso in graphite: 374 (scratched out) / 389

About this work

Overview

Agostino Masucci’s 1720 sheet presents four preparatory studies rendered in pencil and ink. The compact album page contains quick, gestural sketches that explore two distinct biblical themes: an apostle being directed by an angel and the Nativity scene of shepherds worshipping the infant Christ.

Subject & Meaning

The upper pair of drawings depict a robed male figure, likely an apostle, receiving instruction from a winged messenger whose outstretched hand suggests guidance. The lower two studies shift to a domestic tableau, showing a seated woman with a child surrounded by shepherds and additional figures in flowing garments, evoking the adoration of the newborn.

Technique & Style

Masucci employs loose, energetic lines to capture movement, using light strokes for feathered wings and cross‑hatching to model shadows on drapery. The combination of pencil shading and ink outlines creates a dynamic contrast, allowing the artist to experiment with posture, gesture, and the play of light across fabric folds.

History & Provenance

Created in the early eighteenth century, the sheet functioned as a study for larger religious compositions, a common practice among Roman painters of the period. The work remains in a private collection, having been documented in catalogues of Masucci’s drawings as evidence of his preparatory process.

Context

Masucci worked within the late Baroque tradition, where narrative clarity and dramatic gesture were paramount. These sketches reflect the period’s emphasis on compositional planning, especially for complex multi‑figure scenes that would later be executed in fresco or canvas for ecclesiastical settings.

Legacy

The studies provide insight into Masucci’s method of developing narrative depth through incremental drawing. They illustrate the artist’s skill in translating theological concepts into visual language, informing current scholarship on Baroque preparatory techniques.