Artwork

Copy after the Birth of St John the Baptist, Domenico Ghirlandaio in the Tornabuoni Chapel, Santa Maria Novella (Florence)

Copy after the Birth of St John the Baptist, Domenico Ghirlandaio in the Tornabuoni Chapel, Santa Maria Novella (Florence) is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Domenico Ghirlandaio. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

The room has rich colors—deep reds, blues, and gold—and looks like a fancy bedroom with big windows and patterned walls.

This painting shows a chaotic indoor scene with people dressed in old-fashioned clothes. A woman in a red dress stands near a bed where another woman lies, while a man in green leans over her. Below, a group of people kneels around a man on the floor, holding a baby. The room has rich colors—deep reds, blues, and gold—and looks like a fancy bedroom with big windows and patterned walls.

The painting is actually a copy made in 1865, not the original from the 1400s. The artist tried to recreate the style of Domenico Ghirlandaio, who painted the real scene in Florence.

If you like this, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see the original watercolor.

Overview

This 1865 watercolour reproduces a domestic interior originally rendered by Domenico Ghirlandaio in the 15th‑century Tornabuoni Chapel. The scene is set in a richly appointed bedroom, its walls patterned and its windows open to a luminous space. Figures in period costume populate the room, creating a bustling tableau of movement and interaction.

Subject & Meaning

At the centre, a woman identified as Elizabeth reclines on a bed while another female attendant presents an infant at the foot of the couch. Surrounding them, a group of kneeling figures supports a second child, suggesting a narrative of birth and familial care. The composition emphasizes the intimate, communal aspects of childbirth in a noble household.

Technique & Style

The copyist employed transparent watercolour washes to emulate Ghirlandaio's original palette of deep reds, blues, golds, and greens. Fine linear detailing conveys the textures of fabrics and furnishings, while the luminous background suggests the fresco’s original lighting. The work reflects mid‑19th‑century attempts to reproduce Renaissance pictorial qualities through a delicate, layered medium.

History & Provenance

Created in 1865, the piece is a faithful reproduction rather than an authentic 15th‑century work. It was produced to disseminate Ghirlandaio’s composition beyond the Tornabuoni Chapel, serving both educational and decorative purposes. The original watercolour by Ghirlandaio is held by the Victoria and Albert Museum, where it remains a reference for such copies.

Context

Ghirlandaese’s original fresco formed part of a larger narrative cycle in the Tornabuoni Chapel, illustrating scenes from the lives of saints and biblical figures. The depicted moment—post‑birth of St John the Baptist—reflects contemporary Florentine interest in domestic virtue and the sanctity of motherhood, themes that resonated with Renaissance patrons.

Artist & collection

Artist

Domenico Ghirlandaio

Domenico di Tommaso Curradi di Doffo Bigordi (2 June 1448 – 11 January 1494), professionally known as Domenico Ghirlandaio (also spelt as Ghirlandajo), was an Italian Renaissance painter born in Florence.