1520
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Dominant colour
The Virgin and the Cradle with Saint Elisabeth and Saint Anne is a 1520 by Marcantonio Raimondi, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This engraving shows four figures in a dimly lit room. A woman sits in the center holding a baby, while another woman kneels beside her, reaching toward the child. Behind them, a standing woman gestures outward with both hands. To the right, a small child holds a pitcher over a basin. Heavy curtains frame the scene, and a sword leans against the wall. The artist used deep shadows and sharp contrasts to create a sense of depth and drama. Notice how the light hits the faces and hands, making them stand out against the darker background. Look up chiaroscuro to learn how this technique works.
Marcantonio Raimondi, often called simply Marcantonio (c. 1470/82 – c. 1534), was an Italian engraver, known for being the first important printmaker whose body of work consists largely of prints copying paintings. He…
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