Artwork
Madonna and Child with the Little St. John Baptist
Madonna and Child with the Little St. John Baptist is an unspecified painting by the High Renaissance artist Lorenzo di Credi. It dates from 1508 and is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Jesus, accompanied by the young St.
The painting portrays the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Jesus, accompanied by the young St. John the Baptist. The inclusion of the infant Baptist functions as an apocalyptic symbol, referencing the precursor’s role in heralding Christ’s coming and emphasizing themes of divine recognition and salvation. This composition reflects a common devotional motif in Renaissance religious art, using intimate familial grouping to convey theological concepts of unity and foreknowledge.
Technique & Style
Lorenzo di Credi executed the work as a painting, a classification consistent with his religious genre output. The piece is rendered on a support measuring 86.7 cm in height and 68.6 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition centers on the Madonna and Child, incorporating the Little St. John Baptist as a key religious subject.
The handling reflects the formal qualities typical of Credi's devotional works, presenting the figures within a structured pictorial space.
History & Provenance
The painting is held by the Detroit Institute of Arts, where it is recorded with accession number 52.26.
It has been exhibited publicly in Detroit, appearing in the 1976 exhibition “Masterpieces of Painting from the Detroit Institute of Arts” held at the museum.
Legacy
The composition of Madonna and Child with the Little St. John Baptist has influenced subsequent depictions of the Holy Family, particularly in its tender interaction between figures. The work's emphasis on intimate familial connection informed Baroque treatments of sacred subjects, as documented in art historical analyses of devotional imagery. Its presence in the Detroit Institute of Arts collection has ensured continued scholarly attention to Lorenzo di Credi's role in High Renaissance religious painting.
Overview
Created circa 1508, this oil painting presents the Virgin Mary seated with the infant Jesus on her lap, accompanied by a youthful John the Baptist. The trio is placed before a tranquil landscape of gentle hills and water, rendered in muted earth tones that convey a calm devotional atmosphere. The work belongs to the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lorenzo di Credi (1456/59 – January 12, 1537) was an Italian Renaissance painter and sculptor best known for his paintings of religious subjects, and portraits.
