The Virgin and Child with John the Baptist

Cornelis Schut I

1626

chalk

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Baroque Religious

About this work

This sketch shows three figures huddled together under a rough, uneven sky. The Virgin Mary cradles a small child, while John the Baptist stands nearby, his hand raised. Branches and rocks fill the background, drawn in quick, scratchy lines. The artist used only black chalk, leaving the paper’s texture visible for a sketchy, unfinished look. This style was common for quick studies before a finished painting. Next, look up sfumato to see how artists used soft blending—very different from this sketch’s sharp lines.