Artwork
Virgin and Child with St. John
Virgin and Child with St. John is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Luini Bernardino. It dates from 1529 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Virgin and Child with St.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
John depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child alongside the infant Saint John the Baptist, a composition typical of Luini’s religious output from 1529.
The Virgin and Child with St. John depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child alongside the infant Saint John the Baptist, a composition typical of Luini’s religious output from 1529. The work presents the holy kinship emphasized by the presence of the Baptist, who in Christian iconography signifies the forerunner who recognizes Christ’s messianic role. As a devotional image, it underscores the theological connection between Jesus and his precursor, inviting contemplation of salvation history.
The painting’s religious genre and its dating to 1529 anchor it within the High Renaissance tradition of intimate, sacra conversazione scenes.
History & Provenance
The painting Virgin and Child with St. John was created by the Italian artist Bernardino Luini. Historical records and cataloging data establish the work's inception in 1529. Classified as a religious genre piece, the artwork depicts the Child Saint John alongside the Virgin and Child.
The composition measures 430 cm in height and 240 cm in width. Today, the piece is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on location.
The painting Virgin and Child with St. John by Bernardino Luini, created in 1529, is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work is cataloged under the museum's inventory as an accession from the specified institution. While the source material confirms the artwork's current location and creation date, no specific accession number or detailed exhibition history is provided in the available records.
Overview
Virgin and Child with St. John is a 1529 painting by Bernardino Luini, a northern Italian artist influenced by the High Renaissance. The work features the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and Saint John the Baptist in a composition characteristic of the Mannerist tradition.
Technique & Style
Luini, working within Leonardo da Vinci's circle, incorporated elements of Leonardo's style, notably in the graceful, elongated forms of the figures. The painting showcases a masterful use of chiaroscuro, blending light and dark to achieve a pronounced three-dimensional effect.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bernardino Luini (c. 1480/82 – June 1532) was a north Italian painter from Leonardo's circle during the High Renaissance. Both Luini and Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio were said to have worked with Leonardo directly; he…
