Artwork

Virgin and Child between Sts. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist

Virgin and Child between Sts. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Unknown. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin. The work entitled *Virgin and Child between Sts.

About this work

Overview

The work entitled *Virgin and Child between Sts. John the Baptist and John the Evangelist* presents a quartet of standing figures against a flat gold field. Central to the composition is a crowned woman holding an infant, flanked on either side by two male saints, each grasping a circular object. The palette is dominated by vivid reds, greens and blues, all outlined with gold trim.

Subject & Meaning

To her left stands John the Baptist, recognizable by his beard, the lamb he carries, and a banner—symbols of his role as the forerunner of Christ.

The central female figure is identified as the Virgin Mary, her crown and halo indicating her sanctity, while the infant she cradles represents the Christ Child. To her left stands John the Baptist, recognizable by his beard, the lamb he carries, and a banner—symbols of his role as the forerunner of Christ. On the right, John the Evangelist is depicted, traditionally associated with a book or scroll, here rendered as a round object, underscoring his authorship of a Gospel.

Technique & Style

Executed in tempera on panel, the painting employs a gold leaf background typical of medieval devotional images, creating a timeless, non‑spatial setting. Figures are rendered in a linear, stylized manner, with emphasis on vivid coloration and ornamental detail rather than naturalistic modeling. The use of bright primary hues and gold accents reflects the iconographic conventions of the period.

History & Provenance

The work’s precise date and origin are not recorded in the supplied data, and no documented ownership trail accompanies it. Its iconography aligns with a tradition of portable devotional panels produced for private worship in the late medieval to early Renaissance era.