Artwork
The Virgin Holding the Standing Infant
The Virgin Holding the Standing Infant is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Carlo Dolci. It dates from 1661 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
The Virgin Holding the Standing Infant is a 17th-century oil painting by Italian Baroque artist Carlo Dolci, created circa 1661. It is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding a standing infant, likely Jesus, in a scene conveying serenity and devotion. The Virgin's downward gaze and the infant's raised arm and upward look create a sense of tender interaction.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work features visible brushstrokes and textured elements, characteristic of Dolci's meticulous style. A dark background contrasts with a halo of light around the infant's head, emphasizing the sacred subject.
History & Provenance
Dolci, known for producing multiple versions of his compositions, created this work during his active period in Florence. The painting is now held in the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection.
Context
Although classified under the High Renaissance movement in the source, the 1661 creation date and Dolci's style more accurately align the work with the Baroque period, reflecting the emotional intensity and dramatic lighting typical of the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Carlo (or Carlino) Dolci (25 May 1616 – 17 January 1686) was an Italian Baroque painter active mainly in Florence, known for highly finished religious pictures, often repeated in many versions.
