Virgin and Child
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Image: 12 9/16 × 9 13/16 in. (31.9 × 24.9 cm) Sheet: 20 11/16 × 14 7/8 in. (52.6 × 37.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1947
Accession Number
47.100.395
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
This engraving of the Virgin and Child, created around 1830, captures the enduring Renaissance theme of the Madonna nursing the infant Jesus. Attributed in part to designs associated with Leonardo Vinci and realized through the efforts of engravers including the Fratelli Bettalli, Jacopo Bernardi, and Lissant, the work reflects how 19th-century artists revisited earlier compositions. The inclusion of birds adds a gentle, naturalistic touch to the intimate maternal scene, emphasizing themes of tenderness and innocence. As an engraving, this print played a vital role in broadening access to celebrated religious imagery during the 1800s. The medium allowed for detailed reproduction and wide distribution, bringing Renaissance ideals of grace and harmony to new audiences beyond Italy. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Drawings and Prints, it exemplifies the museum’s commitment to preserving reproductive works that bridge centuries of artistic tradition. Measuring just over 12 by 9 inches in the image area, the piece invites close contemplation of its fine lines and delicate modeling. It stands as a testament to the timeless appeal of the Madonna and Child motif, reinterpreted through the precision of 19th-century printmaking.
About the Artist
Fratelli Bettalli|Lissant|Jacopo Bernardi|Leonardo da Vinci (Italian|Italian|Italian|Italian) · 1814 |1800 |1808 |1452 –1835 |1900 |1908 |1519
|Italian, active Milan, ca. 1830|Italian, born Verona, ca. 1808|Italian, Vinci 1452–1519 Amboise