Where can I see The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist?

The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist?

The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist?

Museum-quality prints of The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist

Bernard Van Orley , 1515

The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist is an oil painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Bernard Van Orley. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Mary's role as Madonna underscores the theological emphasis on the Incarnation, and the inclusion of John signals the recognition of Christ's future mission.

The painting presents the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Jesus alongside the infant Saint John the Baptist, a composition typical of early sixteenth-century devotional art. According to the sources, the figures are identified by attributes: the Christ Child is shown with a halo, while Saint John holds a scroll and a rosary, symbols that reference his prophetic role and his later association with baptism. Mary's role as Madonna underscores the theological emphasis on the Incarnation, and the inclusion of John signals the recognition of Christ's future mission.

Together the elements convey a theological narrative of salvation, linking the Holy Family with the foretold precursor of Christ.

Technique & Style

The painting is an oil work executed on a wooden panel, measuring 98 cm in height by 71 cm in width and dated to 1515. It belongs to the religious genre and was created by Bernard van Orley; it is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado. The composition follows the traditional Madonna and Child format, placing the Virgin and Child at the center and incorporating the infant Saint John the Baptist with attributes such as a rosary and a scroll. The work is painted in oil on panel, a medium typical of early sixteenth-century devotional panels.

History & Provenance

The painting titled "The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist" was executed by Bernard van Orley in 1515 as an oil on panel work. It measures 98 cm in height and 71 cm in width. The work belongs to the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, where it has been recorded as part of the museum's holdings.

Its creation is dated to 1515, reflecting the devotional artistic practice of the period. No inventory or accession number is provided in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.

Context

Created by Bernard van Orley around 1515, The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist stands as a significant example of early 16th-century religious art. The work, executed in oil on panel, depicts the Madonna and Child alongside the infant Saint John the Baptist, a common devotional subject of the period. Currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado, the painting measures 98 cm in height and 71 cm in width.

Its attribution to van Orley situates it within the artist's broader production of religious imagery during the Renaissance in the Low Countries, reflecting the era's focus on intimate, humanized biblical narratives.

Overview

Bernard van Orley, a prominent Flemish artist, completed The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist in 1515 using oil paint. This religious composition exemplifies the Northern Renaissance style, yet also reflects Italian artistic trends that influenced van Orley's work. The painting features the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and the young Saint John the Baptist, offering a devotional scene now housed in the Museo del Prado.

Rest on the flight into Egypt, Ambrosius Benson

Own this work as a print

Artist & collection

Artist

Bernard Van Orley

Bernard van Orley (between 1487 and 1491 – 6 January 1541), also called Barend or Barent van Orley, Bernaert van Orley or Barend van Brussel, was a versatile Flemish artist and representative of Dutch and Flemish…