Who painted Virgin and Child with St John and St Francis?

Virgin and Child with St John and St Francis was painted by Pietro Lorenzetti.

Where can I see Virgin and Child with St John and St Francis?

Virgin and Child with St John and St Francis is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Virgin and Child with St John and St Francis?

Virgin and Child with St John and St Francis is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Virgin and Child with St John and St Francis

Pietro Lorenzetti

Virgin and Child with St John and St Francis is a print by the Impressionist artist Pietro Lorenzetti. It is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This chromolithograph depicts the Virgin and Child accompanied by St John and St Francis in a detailed, multi-figure scene, reproduced from an Italian fresco cycle of the 14th to 16th centuries.

Subject & Meaning

The subject matter focuses on a religious gathering, featuring the Virgin and Child with St John (often depicted as a youthful figure associated with the Virgin) and St Francis (embodying religious devotion), emphasizing spiritual community and reverence.

Technique & Style

Produced using chromolithography, the image was transferred to stone with greasy chalk, with each color requiring a separate stone. Note: The mention of chiaroscuro in the source is misleading, as chiaroscuro refers to the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, not the print technique itself.

History & Provenance

Commissioned by the Arundel Society, this print was created from a watercolor copy of the original fresco, selected and approved by the Society's council before being printed and distributed to subscribers.

Context

Part of a large circulation of over 200,000 chromolithographs by 1897, this work was accessible to a broad audience, including various social classes, leading to its presence in public and religious spaces beyond private collections.

Artist & collection

Artist

Pietro Lorenzetti

Pietro Lorenzetti (Italian: ; c. 1280 – 1348) or Pietro Laurati was an Italian painter, active between c. 1306 and 1345. Together with his younger brother Ambrogio, he introduced naturalism into Sienese art. In their…