Artwork

Adoration of the Christ Child, with Sts Barbara and Martin

Adoration of the Christ Child, with Sts Barbara and Martin, by Raffaello Botticini, unspecified, 1512
Adoration of the Christ Child, with Sts Barbara and Martin, by Raffaello Botticini, unspecified, 1512

Adoration of the Christ Child, with Sts Barbara and Martin is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Raffaello Botticini. It dates from 1512 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Overview

Adoration of the Christ Child, with Sts Barbara and Martin is a 1512 painting by Raffaello Botticini, an Italian Renaissance artist from Florence. The work depicts a serene religious scene focusing on the Christ Child, accompanied by two saints.

Subject & Meaning

The painting centers on the Christ Child, flanked by Saints Barbara (right, with a sword) and Martin (left, in green robes with a stick). A kneeling woman (likely the Virgin Mary) holds the infant, while a figure in red and brown (possibly Saint Joseph or another saint) gestures toward the Child, drawing attention to the central figure.

Technique & Style

Characterized by soft, rich colors, the painting features deep blues and greens against a light landscape backdrop. The composition emphasizes the Christ Child as the focal point, with all figures, including distant background elements, directed towards the infant.

History & Provenance

Created in 1512, the painting is part of the State Hermitage Museum's collection. Raffaello Botticini, trained in his father's workshop, primarily executed religious commissions for local churches in Florence and surrounding areas.

Context

Dating to the early Renaissance, this work reflects the period's religious art themes. Botticini's training under his father, Francesco Botticini, influences the style, evident in his completion of his father's *Tabernacle of the Sacrament* in 1504.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Raffaello Botticini

Artist

Raffaello Botticini

Raffaello Botticini (1474–after 1520) was an Italian Renaissance painter active in Florence and its environs.

Hermitage Museum

Museum

Hermitage Museum

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This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Hermitage Museum open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.