Virgin and Child seated on clouds with Saint Philip Neri at left
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 12 1/4 × 8 7/8 in. (31.1 × 22.6 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
51.501.2681
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This etching captures a heavenly vision of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child enthroned on clouds, accompanied by Saint Philip Neri at the left. Created between 1715 and 1796 by Giuseppe Canale after a design by Carlo Cignani, the print reflects the enduring Baroque tradition of devotional imagery that sought to inspire faith through graceful, elevated compositions. Canale, active in Rome during the 18th century, specialized in reproductive prints that brought important religious paintings to wider audiences. Etching allowed artists like Canale to translate the soft modeling and luminous effects of painted originals into delicate lines and tonal washes on paper. Measuring just over 12 by 8 inches, this intimate sheet would have been suitable for private devotion or inclusion in print albums, making sacred subjects accessible beyond church walls. Today in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, the work speaks to the period’s blend of Counter-Reformation spirituality and Enlightenment-era print culture, preserving Cignani’s vision for generations of viewers.
About the Artist
Giuseppe Canale|Carlo Cignani (British|Italian) · 1720 |1725 –1804 |1802
British, Dorrington, Shropshire 1720–1804 London|Italian, Rome 1725–1802 Dresden