Where can I see The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist?

The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist is held by Museo del Prado.

What movement is The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist?

The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist is associated with Mannerism.

Can I buy a print of The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist?

Museum-quality prints of The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist

Luis de Morales , 1570

The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Luis de Morales. It dates from 1570 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting is a religious work that portrays the Virgin Mary alongside the Christ Child and the Child Saint John.

The painting is a religious work that portrays the Virgin Mary alongside the Christ Child and the Child Saint John. Its central focus is the traditional Madonna and Child motif, expanded to include the young Baptist. This grouping represents a common devotional theme emphasizing the intimate connection between the two holy children and the Virgin, highlighting the recognition of Christ's divine nature even in infancy by the future saint.

Technique & Style

Created in 1570, this religious painting by Luis de Morales is executed in oil paint on a panel support. The work measures 73 cm in height and 55 cm in width. As a devotional image depicting the Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist, the piece exemplifies the artist's approach to sacred subjects through the medium of oil on wood, a standard technique for Spanish religious art of the period.

History & Provenance

Luis de Morales created The Virgin and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist in 1570. Executed in oil paint on panel, the religious artwork depicts the Madonna and Child alongside the Child Saint John. The painting subsequently entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains housed.

Overview

Luis de Morales, a 16th‑century Spanish painter often called “El Divino,” executed this oil painting in 1570. The work depicts the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ, with the young Saint John the Baptist leaning toward her. It belongs to the museum’s collection in Madrid and exemplifies the religious subject matter that dominated Morales’s output.

Context

Morales’s style was shaped by the influence of Italian masters such as Raphael and the Lombard followers of Leonardo, integrating their compositional balance with a distinctly Spanish devotional fervor. This synthesis is evident in the painting’s blend of refined modeling and intense spiritual focus.