1581
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
Madonna in the Clouds is a 1581 by Federico Barocci, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This etching shows a woman holding a small child, both floating in a cloudy sky. The woman’s head is haloed, and she wears a loose robe. The child reaches toward her face. Swirling lines fill the background, making the scene feel dreamy. The artist used shading to give the figures depth, making the light parts pop against the dark. This was a common trick in Renaissance art. Next, look up sfumato to see how artists like this softened edges.
Federico Barocci (also written Barozzi) (c. 1535 – 30 September 1612) was an Italian Renaissance painter and printmaker. His original name was Federico Fiori, and he was nicknamed Il Baroccio. His work was highly…
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