Who painted Virgin and Child with Young Saint John the Baptist?

Virgin and Child with Young Saint John the Baptist was painted by Raphael in 1511.

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

Virgin and Child with Young Saint John the Baptist is held by Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

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

Virgin and Child with Young Saint John the Baptist is associated with High Renaissance.

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

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

Artwork

Virgin and Child with Young Saint John the Baptist

Raphael , 1511

Virgin and Child with Young Saint John the Baptist is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Raphael. It dates from 1511 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

About this work

Technique & Style

Stylistically, the composition falls within the genre of religious art, depicting the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and the young Saint John the Baptist.

Created by Raphael, the work is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The piece is square in format, measuring 74.3 cm in both height and width. Stylistically, the composition falls within the genre of religious art, depicting the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and the young Saint John the Baptist.

The medium of oil paint allows for the detailed rendering characteristic of the artist's handling of the figures.

History & Provenance

The work is held by the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and is catalogued under its accession number. It has been featured in exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and at the Museo del Prado, though specific exhibition titles and dates are not provided in the sources.

Overview

Raphael’s oil painting titled Virgin and Child with Young Saint John the Baptist, executed around 1511, presents a tender grouping of the Virgin Mary, the infant Christ, and a youthful John the Baptist. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and exemplifies the High Renaissance’s balanced composition and serene devotional atmosphere.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is the Virgin, gently cradling the infant Jesus, while a small John the Baptist reaches toward the child, his gesture suggesting reverence and foreshadowing his future role as Christ’s forerunner. The interaction underscores themes of familial intimacy and the theological link between the two saviors, a common motif in Renaissance religious art.

Context

The composition aligns with Raphael’s series of Madonna and Child images produced during his Florentine and Roman phases, when he refined his approach to spatial harmony and emotional expression. The inclusion of the youthful John the Baptist reflects contemporary devotional practices that emphasized the saint’s early connection to Christ.