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Madonna and Child Accompanied by Saints

Andrea Andreani

1585

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Madonna and Child Accompanied by Saints is a 1585 ink by Andrea Andreani, a Renaissance work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Andrea Andreani
When & what style?: 1585 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This print shows a group of figures huddled together in warm brown tones. A woman holds a naked baby while an older woman leans in close, both looking serious. To the side, a hooded figure reaches toward the child, and another person sits partially hidden. The background is simple, with a few faint lines suggesting fabric or a wall. Notice how the artist used deep shadows and light to make the figures stand out—this is called *chiaroscuro*. It’s a trick to give the print a 3D feel with just ink and paper. If you like this style, look up technique: woodcut to see how it works.