About this artwork

Pompeo Batoni drew this magnificent study in preparation for a painting of the Visitation, the Virgin Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth. It is a superb example of his fluent and economical drawing style, and his skill at creating dynamic but unified compositions. Batoni’s extraordinary skill led artists to study his works with care. Allan Ramsay, in particular, copied his paintings and collected a number of his drawings, including this example. He later sent his own son, John, for lessons with Batoni when they were in Rome in the 1780s.

Updated before 2020

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Pompeo Batoni

Pompeo Batoni