Artwork Page for Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist

Details / Information for Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist

Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist

c. 1490

Sandro Botticelli

(Italian, 1444/45–1510)

and Workshop

Culture
Italy, 15th century
Medium
tempera and oil on wood
Measurements
Framed: 115 x 12.5 cm (45 1/4 x 4 15/16 in.); Diameter: 68 cm (26 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund 1970.160
Public Domain
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Location
010 Focus Gallery
Print
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Did You Know?

Saint John the Baptist, depicted here as a youth, and the Virgin were both patron saints of Florence.

Description

The perfectly round form, called a tondo, became popular during the 1440s, especially in Florence. Made for domestic settings instead of churches, the circular format challenged the artist to create a harmonious, balanced composition within this more difficult shape. The attribution has been a matter of debate. Botticelli often collaborated with students, including Filippino Lippi, who would himself become a significant painter. Few specialists have doubted that Botticelli executed the central passages: the delicate modeling of the faces, the graceful poses, the figures’ profound interiority, and the diaphanous veil are the artist’s hallmarks. However, someone else in Botticelli’s studio probably painted Mary’s blue garment, also the most heavily restored part of the painting.
Circular tempera painting depicting the Virgin Mary embracing the nude baby Christ while the child Saint John the Baptist looks up at them from the left, all with light skin tones. Mary wears a light-blue and yellow cloak over a dark-red dress, a sheer veil covering her blonde hair. Christ wraps his arms around Mary's neck, looking up at her. Saint John has wavy brown hair and a dark-red tunic, a cross leaning against his shoulder and fingertips pressed together. A landscape extends across the background.

Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist

c. 1490

Sandro Botticelli, Workshop

(Italian, 1444/45–1510)
Italy, 15th century

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