Who painted Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John?

Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John was painted by after Correggio in c. 1510.

Where can I see Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John?

Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John?

Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John is associated with High Renaissance.

Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John by after Correggio (c. 1510)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work falls within the genre of religious art, focusing on the sacred figures of Mary and Jesus as its main subject.

The painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, accompanied by the Infant Saint John the Baptist, a standard composition in religious art known as the Madonna and Child with Saint John. This iconographic arrangement emphasizes the theological relationship between the two children, often interpreted as a foreshadowing of John's future role as the forerunner to Christ. The work falls within the genre of religious art, focusing on the sacred figures of Mary and Jesus as its main subject.

While the artist remains anonymous, the depiction aligns with early 16th-century devotional traditions that highlighted the humanity and divinity of the holy figures. The inclusion of the infant John serves to reinforce the narrative of salvation history, presenting a moment of intimate interaction between the three central figures of Christian theology.

History & Provenance

The painting, dated to 1510, is first recorded in the Habsburg collection at Ambras Castle in Tyrol, listed as inventory A.1462. It later entered the Imperial Art Gallery in Vienna and was housed in the Gemäldegalerie there by 1921. After leaving the imperial holdings, the work passed through the van Diemen Galleries in New York and was sold circa 1930 to collector William R. Timken.

Upon his death it descended to his widow, Lillian Guyer Timken, who bequeathed it to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1960. The artist and any original commission remain undocumented.

The painting is currently held at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., having entered the museum's collection in 1960 via the bequest of Lillian Guyer Timken. The work's documented provenance includes its early presence at Hapsburg Castle in Tyrol (Ambras inventory A. 1462), followed by its transfer to the Imperial Art Gallery in Vienna, and subsequently the Gemäldegalerie in Vienna by 1921. It later passed through the van Diemen Galleries in New York, which sold it to William R. Timken by 1930.

The painting was exhibited as part of the Timken collection and published in the International Studio in December 1930. Following William Timken's death, it was inherited by his widow before her 1960 bequest to the NGA.

Overview

This oil on panel painting, titled "Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John," presents a serene depiction of the Virgin Mary embracing the Christ child, accompanied by the young Saint John. The composition evokes a sense of gentle intimacy and quiet contemplation, characteristic of devotional art from its period. The artist's approach emphasizes harmony and a subdued atmosphere, inviting the viewer into the sacred moment.

Technique & Style

The artist employed a restrained palette, utilizing simple colors to cultivate a pervasive sense of tranquility throughout the composition. Figures are arranged with deliberate harmony, guiding the viewer's gaze towards the central interaction. This method of subtle color application and balanced form was a prevalent stylistic choice during this era, often achieved through techniques like glazing to build luminous, deep tones.

Context

The painting reflects a broader artistic trend of its era, where a subdued color scheme and balanced composition were frequently utilized to convey spiritual calm and devotion. This stylistic preference aimed to create an accessible and contemplative experience for the viewer, aligning with the religious sentiments and aesthetic values prevalent in art production during the period.