Who painted Saint Zenobius Resuscitating a Child?

Saint Zenobius Resuscitating a Child was painted by Ciro Ferri in 1665.

Where can I see Saint Zenobius Resuscitating a Child?

Saint Zenobius Resuscitating a Child is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Saint Zenobius Resuscitating a Child?

Saint Zenobius Resuscitating a Child is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

Saint Zenobius Resuscitating a Child

Ciro Ferri , 1665

Saint Zenobius Resuscitating a Child is a chalk drawing by the Baroque artist Ciro Ferri. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created circa 1665, this black‑chalk drawing on laid paper portrays Saint Zenobius restoring life to a fallen child.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1665, this black‑chalk drawing on laid paper portrays Saint Zenobius restoring life to a fallen child. The composition centers the saint, robed and poised, his right hand hovering over the child's head, while mournful onlookers surround the scene. The work is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington.

Subject & Meaning

The image illustrates a hagiographic episode in which Saint Zenobius, a 5th‑century Florentine bishop, intervenes to revive a dead child. The gestures emphasize the saint’s intercessory power, and the surrounding figures convey communal grief and hope, reflecting the devotional narratives common in Counter‑Reformation art.

Technique & Style

Executed in black chalk, the drawing employs a grid transferred onto the paper, evident in the faint squared background. Ferri’s handling of chiaroscuro through varied line weight creates volume, while the rapid, expressive strokes impart kinetic energy, characteristic of the Italian Baroque aesthetic he absorbed from his master, Pietro da Cortona.

History & Provenance

The work is attributed to Ciro Ferri, a prominent pupil of Cortona and a leading figure in 17th‑century Italian painting and sculpture. It entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings through acquisition, where it is catalogued as a representative example of Ferri’s preparatory drawings.