Artwork
Madonna and Christ Child, with St John the Baptist and Angels
Madonna and Christ Child, with St John the Baptist and Angels is an oil painting by the French Classical Baroque artist Jacques Stella. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
This oil painting, created around 1650, depicts a serene scene of the Virgin Mary and Christ Child surrounded by St John the Baptist and angelic figures. It is a characteristic work of Jacques Stella, a French painter associated with the Classical Baroque movement.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows the Virgin Mary seated on the ground, holding the Christ Child, while St John the Baptist reaches out to them. An angel crowns Mary with a wreath, surrounded by cherubs and a natural landscape, conveying a sense of peaceful reverence.
Technique & Style
The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that contrasts light and dark, creates a soft glow around the figures, drawing attention to their gentle interactions. The balanced composition and restrained color palette reflect Stella's adherence to the neoclassical Parisian Atticism style.
History & Provenance
The painting is now held in the State Hermitage Museum, a testament to its enduring significance. Created in the mid-17th century, it represents the artistic sensibilities of that era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacques Stella (1596 – 29 April 1657) was a French painter, a leading exponent of the neoclassical style of Parisian Atticism.
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