Red chalk drawing of a crowned seated woman with radiating halo, a kneeling figure and cherubs at lower left, on a throne.

Seated Allegorical Figure of Divine Wisdom

A crowned, seated female figure, her head surrounded by radiating rays, occupies the center of a red chalk sheet. A kneeling figure leans against her lap at lower left, while small cherubs appear at the left edge and an angel at upper right. Loose, sketched hatching defines the throne and drapery, with the composition built around a strong diagonal.

Look closer: A small cherub peeks from behind the throne at the upper right edge.

Artist: Carlo Maratti
Date: 1674–77
Medium: Red chalk
Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Size: 2896 × 3523 px

Download full size

Public domain · The Metropolitan Museum of Art releases this image under CC0 (latest date 1677).
Rights checked 2026-11-05 · tier A · as stated by the source: CC0 (The Met Open Access, isPublicDomain=true)

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rogers Fund, 1966

baroque sketch drawing study old master allegory halo cherubs seated woman red chalk throne