The Adoration of the Magi
by BAROCCI, Federico Fiori, Black chalk, pen and brush on blue paper, 293 x 209 mm
The Virgin Mary, surrounded by the three kings, is sitting with Jesus on her lap. The kings have just arrived: in the foreground we can see a horse being held by the reins, and one of the kings with his crown in his hand. Barocci used white and pale yellow to create effects of light in this lively sketch. The drawing must have been a preliminary study for a painting (which is not known to have survived). The artist’s efforts to achieve an ideal composition are very apparent.