Virgin and Child
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Sheet: 14 13/16 x 10 7/8 in. (37.7 x 27.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.2997
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the serene *Virgin and Child*, captivating mezzotint print from 1772, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Drawings and Prints. Originally derived from a composition by the 17th-century Italian Baroque Simone Cantarini—a master of the Bolognese school influenced by Guido Reni—this tender depiction of the Madonna cradling the infant Jesus evokes profound maternal devotion and spiritual grace. Cantarini's elegant figures, with their soft modeling and luminous drapery, were ideally suited for reproduction in print form. Crafted by a collaborative team of British printmakers—Robert ...
About the Artist
Simone Cantarini|Robert Laurie|Robert Sayer|Richard Earlom · 1612–1648
He was one of the most eminent pupils of Guido Reni and one of the most gifted engravers in the tradition of the Carracci. He had a strong personality and developed a highly original style, which united aspects of Bolognese classicism with a bold naturalism. Comment on works: Religious