Who painted Madonna and Child with Saint John of Nepomuk?

Madonna and Child with Saint John of Nepomuk was painted by Sebastiano Conca in 1730.

Where can I see Madonna and Child with Saint John of Nepomuk?

Madonna and Child with Saint John of Nepomuk is held by Galleria Borghese.

What movement is Madonna and Child with Saint John of Nepomuk?

Madonna and Child with Saint John of Nepomuk is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Madonna and Child with Saint John of Nepomuk

Sebastiano Conca , 1730

Madonna and Child with Saint John of Nepomuk is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Sebastiano Conca. It dates from 1730 and is held in the collection of the Galleria Borghese.

About this work

Overview

Sebastiano Conca’s early‑18th‑century canvas, dated around 1730, presents a devotional grouping centered on the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus. The composition includes the martyr Saint John of Nepomuk, who is shown in a kneeling posture of prayer. The work is part of the collection of Rome’s Galleria Borghese, where it remains on public display.

Subject & Meaning

The painting brings together the Madonna, the Christ Child, and Saint John of Nepomuk, a figure venerated for his silence before death. By placing the saint in a supplicatory pose before the divine pair, Conca underscores themes of intercession and the protective role of saints in Catholic devotion, inviting viewers to contemplate humility and reverence.

Technique & Style

Conca employs a softened chiaroscuro that models the figures against a faintly rendered landscape, creating a subtle sense of three‑dimensional space. The palette is restrained, dominated by pastel hues that lend the scene a tranquil atmosphere. Delicate modeling of drapery and the gentle transition between light and shadow enhance the overall calmness of the composition.

History & Provenance

Since its creation in the early 1730s, the painting has been part of the Galleria Borghese’s holdings in Rome. The museum’s acquisition records indicate that the work entered the collection during the 18th‑century consolidation of the Borghese art assemblage, where it has been preserved and exhibited as an example of Conca’s religious output.