Artwork
Virgin and Child with Saints Jerome and Nicholas of Tolentino
Virgin and Child with Saints Jerome and Nicholas of Tolentino is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Lorenzo Lotto. It dates from 1522 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Virgin and Child with Saints Jerome and Nicholas of Tolentino is an oil painting by Lorenzo Lotto, created around 1523–1524. This work depicts the central figures of Mary and the Christ Child flanked by two venerated saints, Jerome and Nicholas of Tolentino. It represents a period late in Lotto's residency in Bergamo and showcases his characteristic approach to religious narrative.
Subject & Meaning
A white lily and a tranquil landscape provide the backdrop, enhancing the devotional atmosphere conveyed by the saints' expressions.
The composition centers on the Virgin Mary, who cradles the Christ Child. To her left stands Saint Jerome, identifiable by his long white beard and a golden cross, his gaze directed downwards. On her right, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, clad in dark robes, looks towards the Madonna. A white lily and a tranquil landscape provide the backdrop, enhancing the devotional atmosphere conveyed by the saints' expressions.
Technique & Style
Lotto employs a harmonious arrangement, placing the Virgin and Child prominently at the center. The Virgin's vibrant red dress and blue skirt, along with the Christ Child's simple white cloth, provide focal points. The artist's use of color and the serene background landscape contribute to the painting's overall aesthetic. The reverent expressions of the saints further emphasize the spiritual depth of the scene.
History & Provenance
This painting's documented history begins in the Dawkins collection in Oxford, where it resided from 1911 to 1955. It subsequently moved to the Heinemann collection in New York before being acquired by its current owner, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in 1960. The museum also holds another work by Lotto, a workshop version of his Mystic Marriage of St Catherine.
Context
Dating to approximately 1523–1524, this painting marks the conclusion of Lorenzo Lotto's period in Bergamo. It shares preparatory drawings with an earlier iteration, Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist and Saint Catherine, completed in 1522 and now in the Palma Camozzi collection. Both compositions feature similar flanking saints, reflecting Lotto's iterative creative process.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Lorenzo Lotto (c. 1480 – 1556/57) was an Italian Renaissance painter, draughtsman, and illustrator, traditionally placed in the Venetian school, though much of his career was spent in other north Italian cities. He…
