Artwork
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child is an unspecified painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Carlo Maratta. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting’s iconography follows established conventions of the Madonna and Child motif, reinforcing theological narratives of intercession and grace.
The work portrays the Virgin Mary tenderly holding the infant Jesus, a composition rooted in Catholic devotional tradition that emphasizes maternal tenderness and divine incarnation. Symbolically, the figures embody purity and the promise of salvation, aligning with Counter‑Reformation ideals of spiritual intimacy. The painting’s iconography follows established conventions of the Madonna and Child motif, reinforcing theological narratives of intercession and grace.
History & Provenance
The painting is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it is located as part of the museum's holdings. Dated 1660, the work is catalogued as a religious painting by Carlo Maratta depicting the Madonna and Child.
No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented beyond its presence in the Kunsthistorisches Museum collection.
Overview
Carlo Maratta, a prominent Roman painter of the late Baroque, completed the canvas titled Madonna and Child in 1660. Executed during his mature period, the work exemplifies his synthesis of classical restraint with the emotive qualities of Baroque religious art. It is presently part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection in Vienna.
Technique & Style
Maratta employs a restrained chiaroscuro, allowing a soft, diffused light to illuminate the faces and drapery against a muted interior backdrop. The palette of blues, reds, and warm golds, combined with gentle modeling of forms, creates a serene atmosphere. The painting reflects his classicizing approach, balancing Baroque dynamism with harmonious composition.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carlo Maratta or Maratti (18 May 1625 – 15 December 1713) was an Italian Baroque painter and draughtsman, active principally in Rome where he was the leading painter in the second half of the 17th century.
