Female Saint Beholding Vision of Christ Child and Saint Joseph

The work titled Female Saint Beholding Vision of Christ Child and Saint Joseph is attributed to the celebrated master Doménikos Theotokópoulos, known as El Greco (Greek, active in Spain, 1541-1614). This compelling composition, created sometime between 1600 and 1699, is executed using brush and brown and black ink, combined with brown and gray wash on cream laid paper. Classified as a drawing, the highly expressive technique serves as a powerful study for a religious theme, likely intended as a preparatory sketch for a larger altarpiece or devotional painting.

Reflecting the intense spiritual fervor of the Counter-Reformation, the work depicts a female saint in a moment of ecstatic contemplation, witnessing a luminous, celestial vision. The figures of the Christ Child and Saint Joseph appear dynamically within the light, contrasting sharply with the earthly figure of the saint. The technique, emphasizing dramatic, rapid line work and stark tonal contrasts achieved through the wash, is characteristic of the innovative style perfected by the Greek-born master. This specific drawing exemplifies the enduring stylistic influence of Greco on Spanish and European art long after his death.

While dating suggests it may be the work of a close follower or workshop artist absorbing the intense style, the attribution to Greco highlights its significance as an artifact of his artistic legacy. This important piece provides valuable insight into the drawing practices of the early 17th century, where such studies often guided the creation of subsequent paintings or devotional prints. This drawing is housed in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, and high-quality reproductions of this work are often made accessible through public domain art initiatives.