Artwork

The Healing of the Possessed Boy in a Procession of the Volto Santo

The Healing of the Possessed Boy in a Procession of the Volto Santo is an ink drawing by the Baroque artist Elisabetta Sirani. It dates from 1659 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

The use of allegory in this painting is interesting because it conveys a deeper meaning beyond the literal scene.

This painting is called The Healing of the Possessed Boy in a Procession of the Volto Santo.
It was made by Elisabetta Sirani around 1659.
The artist used pen, brown ink, and brown washes to create the image, which is an allegory.
The use of allegory in this painting is interesting because it conveys a deeper meaning beyond the literal scene.
To learn more about this style, look up the movement: Baroque.

Overview

This 1659 drawing by Elisabetta Sirani, a pioneering female Baroque artist from Bologna, captures a dramatic religious scene on laid paper using pen, brown ink, brown washes, and white highlights over graphite.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts the exorcism of a possessed boy amidst a procession honoring the Volto Santo, a venerated image of Christ. The composition serves as an allegory, conveying a deeper spiritual message beyond the literal event.

Technique & Style

Sirani employed characteristic Baroque drawing techniques, combining pen and brown ink for outlines, brown washes for shading, and white heightening for luminosity, all grounded on a graphite underdrawing.

History & Provenance

Created during Sirani's prolific yet short career, the drawing reflects her versatility in both public and private commissions before her untimely death at 27.

Context

As one of the first successful female artists in early modern Bologna, Sirani's work, including this drawing, contributed to the Baroque movement's expressive and emotionally charged artistic landscape.

Artist & collection

Artist

Elisabetta Sirani

Elisabetta Sirani (8 January 1638 – 28 August 1665) was an Italian Baroque painter and printmaker who died in unexplained circumstances at the age of 27.