Maria mit Jesuskind und Johannes

Farinati employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing the illuminated figures to emerge from a dark, indistinct background. The contrast of light and shadow, together with the elongated forms and elegant gestures, reflects the Mannerist tendency toward artificiality while hinting at the more naturalistic approach that would define the Baroque.

Born in Verona and active in Mantua and Venice, Farinati was a contemporary of Paolo Veronese and initially trained under his father and local masters. After its creation, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Alte Pinakothek, where it has been on display since the museum’s early acquisitions of Italian Renaissance works.

The work belongs to a period when Italian artists were exploring new emotional expressions within religious subjects, moving away from the balanced compositions of the High Renaissance toward more dramatic, intimate portrayals. Farinati’s inclusion of a book and the attentive posture of the children reflects contemporary devotional practices that emphasized personal piety.