Artwork

Saint Agnes (verso)

Saint Agnes (verso), by Master of the Drapery Studies, ink
Saint Agnes (verso), by Master of the Drapery Studies, ink

Saint Agnes (verso) is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Master of the Drapery Studies. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Saint Agnes (verso) is a pen and brown ink drawing on laid paper, attributed to the Master of the Drapery Studies, dating to 1490.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts a woman, identifiable as Saint Agnes, characterized by curly hair and a long robe. She is accompanied by a lamb in one arm, a staff in the other, and two additional lambs at her feet, symbolizing her saintly attributes.

Technique & Style

The composition features simple yet detailed lines with selective shading to emphasize fabric folds, indicating the artist's primary interest in studying drapery movement and interaction with the subjects (Agnes and the lambs).

Artist & collection

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