The Virgin and Child with St Elizabeth and the infant Baptist
1550
oil
From the collection of Fitzwilliam Museum
1550
oil
From the collection of Fitzwilliam Museum
This painting shows the Virgin Mary sitting on the ground, holding a baby Jesus. She's wearing a red dress with a blue cloak and a gold halo. Next to her is another woman, St Elizabeth, who is also wearing a white headscarf and a yellow dress. She's holding a baby, who is reaching out to touch Jesus' foot. In the background, there are some old ruins and hills. The colors in the painting are pretty muted, with lots of browns and grays. But Mary's red dress and the gold halos around her and the babies stand out. It's a pretty simple scene, but it feels peaceful and calm. If you want to learn more about this kind of art, you should check out the work of Jacopino del Conte.
