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| Giovanni Agostino da Lodi St John the Baptist ca. 1500 drawing Getty Museum, Los Angeles |
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| Cesare da Sesto The Swooning Virgin supported by Three Holy Women, and Three Studies of Men (recto) ca. 1510 drawing Getty Museum, Los Angeles |
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| Cesare da Sesto St George and the Dragon (verso of The Swooning Virgin) ca. 1510 drawing Getty Museum, Los Angeles |
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| attributed to Polidoro da Caravaggio Study of a Statue of Pan ca. 1520-30 drawing Minneapolis Institute of Art |
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| Jacopo Pontormo Christ before Pilate 1522-23 drawing Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Giulio Romano Head of Bearded Man ca. 1530 drawing Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Pordenone God the Father supported by Angels ca. 1530 drawing Detroit Institute of Arts |
The Argument
On the way to the village store
I drive through a down-draft
from the neighbor's chimney.
Woodsmoke tumbles from the eaves
backlit by sun, reminding me
of the fire and sulfur of Grandmother's
vengeful God, the one who disapproves
of jeans and shorts for girls,
dancing, strong waters, and adultery.
A moment later the smoke enters
the car, although the windows are tight,
insinuating that I might, like Judas,
and the foolish virgins, and the rich
young man, have been made for unquenchable
fire. God will need something to burn
if the fire is to be unquenchable.
"All things work together for the good
for those who love God," she said
to comfort me at Uncle Hazen's funeral,
where Father held me up to see
the maroon gladiolus that trembled
as we approached the bier, the elaborate
shirred satin, brass fittings, anything,
oh, anything but Uncle's squelched
and made-up face.
"No! NO! How is it good to be dead?"
I cried afterward, wild-eyed and flushed.
"God's ways are not our ways,"
she said then out of pity
and the wish to forestall the argument.
– Jane Kenyon (1993)
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| Parmigianino Portrait of Bearded Man (possibly poet Giorgio Anselmi) ca. 1530-35 drawing Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
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| follower of Michelangelo Anatomical Study of Leg ca. 1540-50 drawing Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Marco Pino Battle of Nude Men ca. 1545-50 drawing Los Angeles County Museum of Art |
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| Baccio Bandinelli First Family before a Shelter 1547-48 drawing (formerly in the collection of Everhard Jabach) Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Giuseppe Salviati Cloelia fleeing from the Etruscan King Porsena ca. 1550-60 drawing National Galleries of Scotland |
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| Federico Zuccaro St Catherine in Prison converting the Empress Faustina flanked by St Saturnius and St Simon ca. 1570-71 drawing (modello for fresco) Art Institute of Chicago |
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| follower of Luca Cambiaso Abduction of Dejanira by the Centaur Nessus ca. 1575 drawing Art Institute of Chicago |