Artwork
The Visitation
The Visitation is an ink print by the Baroque artist Carlo Maratta. It dates from 1669 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:recto: none; verso: at lower center, in brown ink: Naudet Md Destampes au Louvre 1796 (Lugt 1937)
About this work
Overview
Carlo Maratta’s 1669 etching titled The Visitation presents a quiet, outdoor encounter between two women. Rendered on laid paper, the print captures a moment of calm intimacy, with one figure holding a small bundle while the other rests a hand on her shoulder. The composition is set against a backdrop of trees, emphasizing a serene, natural setting.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts the biblical episode of the Visitation, when the Virgin Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth. Both women are shown in modest, flowing robes, their expressions composed and reverent. The small bundle in Mary’s hand alludes to the infant Jesus, underscoring themes of divine promise and familial devotion.
Technique & Style
Fine incised lines render the softness of light on faces and fabric, while the aquatint provides gentle shading that enhances the depth of the outdoor space.
Maratta employed a combination of etching, drypoint, and aquatint on a copper plate, allowing for delicate line work and subtle tonal variations. Fine incised lines render the softness of light on faces and fabric, while the aquatint provides gentle shading that enhances the depth of the outdoor space. The overall effect is characteristic of mid‑17th‑century religious prints, balancing precision with atmospheric nuance.
History & Provenance
Created in 1669, the etching reflects Maratta’s engagement with printmaking later in his career, complementing his prolific painting output. While the original plate’s whereabouts are unclear, surviving impressions are held in several European print collections, documenting the work’s circulation among collectors of devotional imagery during the Baroque period.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Carlo Maratta or Maratti (18 May 1625 – 15 December 1713) was an Italian Baroque painter and draughtsman, active principally in Rome where he was the leading painter in the second half of the 17th century.
