Artwork

The Virgin and Child Enthroned, Adored by Saints

The Virgin and Child Enthroned, Adored by Saints, by Giuseppe Bernardino Bison, ink, 1794
The Virgin and Child Enthroned, Adored by Saints, by Giuseppe Bernardino Bison, ink, 1794

The Virgin and Child Enthroned, Adored by Saints is an ink drawing by the Romanticist artist Giuseppe Bernardino Bison. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Virgin and Child Enthroned, Adored by Saints is a drawing created by Giuseppe Bernardino Bison around the 1790s. It is a work on paper, executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash over graphite on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a traditional Christian theme, with the Virgin and Child enthroned and adored by saints. It reflects Bison's occasional foray into religious subjects, a departure from his more typical focus on landscapes and architectural scenes.

Technique & Style

Bison employed a combination of pen and brown ink with brown wash over graphite on laid paper, a technique that allowed for detailed and expressive renderings. This approach was characteristic of drawing practices during this period.

Context

The work is associated with the late 18th century, a time when artistic styles were shifting. Bison's drawing relates to the broader artistic movements of his era, including the emerging tendencies of Romanticism.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Giuseppe Bernardino Bison

Artist

Giuseppe Bernardino Bison

Giuseppe Bernardino Bison was an itinerant Italian painter of frescoes, landscapes, vedute, capriccios and some religious works.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.