The Magi before the Madonna

About the Work

Bartolomeo Biscaino died of the plague before his time, leaving only a modest oeuvre behind. The spirited drawing provides insights into his working process: The pen strokes are nervous, almost agitated. Again and again, they depart from the lines of the drawing laid out beforehand in charcoal. What is more, the artist was evidently undecided about various aspects of the composition. The sheet served as a preliminary study for one of his most important etchings.