Artwork
Mary with child and Saint John
Mary with child and Saint John is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Cesare da Sesto. It dates from 1513 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The gentle interplay of gazes and gestures conveys themes of divine grace and human salvation, central to Renaissance religious iconography.
The painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child while the young Saint John the Baptist kneels beside them, a composition commonly known as the Madonna and Child with Saint John. Cesare da Sesto’s arrangement emphasizes maternal tenderness as Mary supports the Christ Child, who reaches toward Saint John, who in turn offers a reed cross, a traditional attribute signaling Christ’s future Passion. The gentle interplay of gazes and gestures conveys themes of divine grace and human salvation, central to Renaissance religious iconography.
The inclusion of Saint John, identifiable by his attribute, situates the scene within the devotional tradition of the Holy Family, underscoring intercession and the promise of redemption.
Technique & Style
Created in 1513, Mary with Child and Saint John is an oil painting executed on a poplar panel by Cesare da Sesto. The work measures 124.7 cm in height and 105 cm in width. As a religious composition, it depicts the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and Saint John the Baptist.
The painting is currently held within the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1513 by Cesare da Sesto. It is executed in oil on poplar panel and depicts the Madonna and Child with Saint John. The work is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections and is located at the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.
Overview
Cesare da Sesto’s oil painting, dated 1513, presents a quiet devotional scene featuring the Virgin Mary, the infant Christ, and the young Saint John the Baptist. Executed on canvas, the work is part of the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich. The composition balances intimacy with a modest landscape backdrop, inviting contemplation of the figures’ tender interaction.
Artist & collection
