Getty Museum
Nativity (recto); Turbaned Woman (verso)
Creator
Guido ReniItalian Artist · 1575–1642
All works by this person →Guido Reni was a widely-acclaimed painter and draughtsman in seventeenth-century Italy, renowned for his elegant interpretations of religious and mythological scenes. His style, which fused elements of classical idealism with close observation of the natural world, was perpetuated through the activity of an exceptionally large and productive studio and emulated by many artists across Europe. Born
More on Getty ULAN- Date
- about 1640–1642
- Medium
- Black, red and white chalk (recto); red chalk (verso)
- Culture
- Italian
- Department
- Drawings
- Institution
- Getty Museum
Though drawing the holy subject of the Virgin and Child, Guido Reni simply captured the intimacy of a woman cradling her infant. Other than their attractiveness, he gave no indication that this baby or this woman was divine. When he later painted the group as *The* *Holy Family Adored by Saints Elizabeth and John the Baptist* , he idealized the figures more and made them more majestic to indicate their biblical importance. Using sharp, rather scratchy strokes and a somewhat irregular use of red chalk, Reni sketched the Virgin's face, the center of the group, and her foot. Artists often combined red and black chalks to suggest color distinctions associated with faces, hair, costumes, and other details. Reni's judicious use of white against the light paper gives the effect of the Virgin's drapery shimmering in the light. On the verso, Reni sketched a turban such as a sibyl might wear, with the barest indication of earrings and a scarf.
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