Artwork
God Enthroned Surrounded by Saints
God Enthroned Surrounded by Saints is an ink drawing by the Renaissance artist Giovanni Battista Trotti. It dates from 1588 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Giovanni Battista Trotti’s drawing, titled *God Enthroned Surrounded by Saints*, dates from 1588. Executed on laid paper, the composition presents a central divine figure flanked by a group of saints, arranged in a hierarchical scheme typical of late‑Renaissance devotional imagery.
Technique & Style
The work combines pen work and brown ink, enhanced with a brown wash applied over an underdrawing in black chalk or graphite. This layered approach yields a subtle tonal range, allowing the artist to model forms and suggest depth while retaining the immediacy of a drawing.
History & Provenance
Created toward the end of the sixteenth century, the piece reflects Trotti’s mature period. While specific ownership records are scarce, the drawing has been documented in scholarly catalogues of the artist’s oeuvre and is noted for its representation of religious iconography in a preparatory format.
Artist & collection
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