Artwork
The Virgin and Infant Jesus
The Virgin and Infant Jesus is a print by Jean Mariette. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
A 1750 engraving on paper, *The Virgin and Infant Jesus*, reproduces a composition attributed to Guido Reni, executed by Jean Mariette. The work depicts a intimate scene with three figures.
Subject & Meaning
The print illustrates a tender moment between the Virgin Mary, the Infant Jesus, and an older, bearded figure (likely Saint Joseph or a prophetic figure). The Virgin's averted gaze and the child's gesture towards the man convey a sense of gentle, familial interaction.
Technique & Style
The engraving utilizes strong chiaroscuro, with deep shadows against a dark background, accentuating the figures' forms. Smooth lines and the contrast between light and dark create a contemplative, focused atmosphere.
History & Provenance
Engraved by Jean Mariette in 1750, based on a design by Guido Reni. Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
This work reflects the Baroque tradition of emotive, dramatically lit religious scenes, characteristic of 17th- and 18th-century European art.
Legacy
As a reproduction of Reni's composition, it contributes to the dissemination of his style and the enduring representation of Christian iconography in early modern European printmaking.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
A Paris printmaker of the late 1600s, Jean Mariette carved religious scenes for a devout public.
The Virgin and Child
Holy Family
The Madonna della Scodella
The Holy Family with Saint Anne and Two Angels
Madonna and Child with Saints Elizabeth and John the Baptist (La Madonna della Scodella)
The Madonna Nursing the Christ Child
Virgin with the Bowl
Madonna with the Bowl
Ecce tu pulcher es Dilecte ...
Madonna and Child with a Bishop
Holy Family and S. John
The Virgin adoring the Infant Jesus