The Virgin and Child with the Young St. John the Baptist

Art Historical Context

Carlo Maratti created this intimate etching in 1647, capturing the tender meeting of the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and the young Saint John the Baptist. A leading figure in the Roman Baroque, Maratti produced this print early in his career, when he was just twenty-two. The small sheet, measuring roughly 6 7/8 by 5 inches, belongs to the second of four states, revealing the artist’s careful revisions to refine the figures’ expressions and the delicate play of light across their forms. The subject reflects a long-standing Christian tradition that emphasizes the human connection between these holy figures. By rendering the scene in etching rather than painting, Maratti made the devotional image widely accessible, allowing viewers to contemplate the gentle interaction between mother, son, and the young saint who would later recognize Christ’s divinity. Today housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, the work exemplifies how Baroque printmakers combined spiritual themes with technical precision, inviting quiet reflection on faith and family.

About the Artist

Carlo Maratti · 1625–1713

Son of a Dalmatian father. Known as the last major Italian artist of the classical tradition, which had originated with Raphael. He created a grandiose and decorative style that was valued by his ecclesiastical patrons. Comment on works: History; Religious.