Descent into Limbo

Giovanni Antonio da Brescia

Cleveland Museum of Art

Black and white drawing of a scene depicting several nude male figures and two creatures. The drawing shows a group of six nude male figures on the right and one on the left. The three central figures stand on a stone floor in front of an arched stone doorway. The figure on the left is outside of the archway and holds a wooden beam. The central figure bends over to open a metal hatch in the floor. The six male figures express distress or grief. Above the archway are two creatures; one sits on top with a serpent-like tail and plays a horn; the other creature on the right appears to be a hybrid of a man and a rooster. The background shows a rocky stone wall. The overall mood appears ominous and foreboding. The title of the piece is "Descent into Limbo" by Giovanni Antonio da Brescia.