The Ecstasy of Saint Francis [recto]

Sebastiano Ricci

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of angelic figures in a dynamic, celestial scene. The composition presents gracefully sketched angelic beings, with emphasis on flow and movement through the use of curvilinear lines and gestural brushstrokes. Several of these figures appear to be winged, suggesting a scene lifted from the heavens, rich with motion and energy. The drawing is executed with pen and brown ink washes, creating contrasts and a sense of depth. There is a sense of interaction among the figures, depicted in an etheric and dream-like setting.