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Virgin and Child with John the Baptist and Angels

Pietro del Donzello

1500

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Early Renaissance Renaissance Renaissance Religious

Dominant colour

Virgin and Child with John the Baptist and Angels is a 1500 unspecified by Pietro del Donzello, a Early Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Pietro del Donzello
When & what style?: 1500 · Early Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows a woman holding a naked baby while two older children kneel beside them. The woman wears a dark blue robe and a green headscarf, and the baby reaches toward her face. Two standing figures in simple robes stand on either side, looking at the woman and child. The background is a soft, light blue with a distant landscape. Notice how the artist used light to make the figures look real, especially the baby’s soft skin and the shadows on the woman’s face. The colors are calm—mostly blues, greens, and earthy reds—with the baby’s skin standing out as the lightest part. Look up sfumato next to see how artists like this one blended colors smoothly for a dreamy effect.

About the artist

Artist

Pietro del Donzello

Pietro del Donzello (1452–1509) was an Italian painter. Donzello was born in Florence. His brother Ippolito was also a painter. Pietro primarily painted traditional scenes and shields. Some of his other works reside at…

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