The Virgin of the Immaculate Conception (recto)
1764
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1764
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This sketch shows a woman in a long, flowing robe standing on a rocky base. Around her are small figures—some babies, one skeleton—and a snake coiled below her feet. The sky is filled with wispy clouds, and faint stars or rays glow in the corners. The woman’s calm pose contrasts with the chaotic scene around her. The loose, sketchy lines and soft washes give it a dreamy, unfinished feel. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists build shadows with crisscrossed lines.
