Drawing, Vision of Sainted Benedictine Monk, 1776, Francesco Saverio Mergolo

Recto: vertical composition framed by a thick line of pen and black ink in the shape of a tombstone with concave corners. Depicted is angel supporting the collapsing saint. One points at an open book in the foreground at right. In the foreground at left are the upper parts of a demon and of a woman chained to a stone wall. In the background at right is the purgatory, with an angel liberating a soul. The composition has been squared in graphite. Verso: above is a head, shown in profile; outlined. Below folded hands. Written below: "mergolo" (erased) 1776/egreg[ia] (erased) s[ignor]a e. Date: 1776. Dimensions: 33.4 x 24 cm (13 1/8 x 9 7/16 in.). Medium: brush and brown ink, gray wash, laid paper, pen and brown ink with black chalk. Collection: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Drawing, Vision of Sainted Benedictine Monk, 1776 (CH 18543371)