Artwork
God the Father with His Right Hand Raised in Blessing
God the Father with His Right Hand Raised in Blessing is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Girolamo dai Libri. It dates from 1514 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Girolamo dai Libri’s drawing, dated 1514, depicts God the Father with his right hand raised in a gesture of blessing. Executed on cream‑colored paper affixed to a wooden panel, the work combines line and wash to render a solemn, devotional image typical of early sixteenth‑century religious art.
Technique & Style
The artist employed a combination of leadpoint, pen, and brown ink, applying washes to build tonal depth. Highlights of white pigment accentuate the figure’s features against the prepared paper, creating a subtle contrast that underscores the Renaissance interest in chiaroscuro and precise draftsmanship.
History & Provenance
Created in 1514, the drawing entered the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains on view. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader effort to represent Italian Renaissance drawing practices within its holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Girolamo dai Libri was an Italian illuminator of manuscripts and painter of altarpieces, working in an early Renaissance style.
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