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Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Through September 5
Exhibitions & Events
America’s 250th

Celebrating American art and artists
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Female Figure (Penitent Magdalene?) [verso]

Attributed to Donato Creti

Associated Names

Donato Creti

Artist, Bolognese, 1671 - 1749

The image is a sketch of an abstract representation of a person's upper body and head. The figure is facing right, with the head slightly tilted forward. The facial features are minimally detailed, with emphasis on the outline rather than specific details, and the hair is indicated with simple lines. The figure seems to be wearing a flowing garment, but clear clothing details are not defined. There are no visible jewelry or objects held by the figure. The background consists of the texture of the paper and some faint lines and sketches.

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Artwork overview

Medium

pen and brown ink on laid paper
Credit Line

Gift of Elizabeth Miles Cooke in memory of Hereward Lester Cooke
Dimensions

sight size: 13.2 x 18.6 cm (5 3/16 x 7 5/16 in.)
sheet: 14.9 x 20.7 cm (5 7/8 x 8 1/8 in.)
Accession Number

1978.8.7.b

The image shows an ink drawing of three figures, two adults, and one child, seated together. The scene is visually framed within an oval sketch. The person on the left is shown from the waist up, seated, and appears to be holding a child on their lap. Their head is slightly turned to the right. The child is positioned sitting on the lap of the person on the left, facing forward with their head turned slightly to the right, as if gazing toward the second adult figure. The figure on the right is also depicted from the waist up, seated and facing slightly toward the other two figures. All figures are loosely clothed, with flowing garments visible through the sketchy lines. There are no additional objects or visible details of jewelry within the image. The background is minimal with sweeping lines suggesting the presence of a blanket or cushion behind the figures. The overall setting is undefined, focusing primarily on the interaction among the three subjects. — Holy Family [recto]

Donato Creti

1671

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Unidentified collector, g (inscribed in ink)

Associated Names

Cooke, Hereward Lester, Mrs.

Bibliography

2011

Riccòmini, Marco. "In the Shadow of Donato Creti: 'Amico di Donato.'" Master Drawings 49, no. 1 (Spring, 2011): 111, no. 33, fig. 47 (as "Amico di Donato").

Wikidata ID

Q64536799

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