Pope Gregory the Great and Saint Vitale Interceding for the Souls in Purgatory

Francesco Fontebasso, after Sebastiano Ricci

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing depicting heavenly and earthly figures interacting in a dream-like scene. A group of angelic figures with wings emerge from swirling clouds, interacting with figures below. The bottom section shows a bearded man and another seated figure pointing towards the sky. Angelic beings guide or lift souls upwards, continuing the celestial theme. The background includes clouds, a desolate landscape with a tower, and sparse trees. The artwork uses swirling lines for the clouds and detailed textures for the figures' clothing and features, conveying movement in the composition.