Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Elisabetta Sirani. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The work is a black‑and‑white print on paper that presents a devotional scene of a woman cradling a child, accompanied by a winged figure.
About this work
Overview
The work is a black‑and‑white print on paper that presents a devotional scene of a woman cradling a child, accompanied by a winged figure. The composition is framed by an ornamental border and rendered with fine linear detail, typical of early modern printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is identified as the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, while the attendant angel—interpreted as St. John—reaches toward the child. The gentle gaze and modest gestures convey a serene, intimate moment of maternal care and divine connection.
Technique & Style
The artist employs delicate hatching and cross‑hatching to model forms, creating a subtle chiaroscuro that suggests volume and depth. The use of fine lines for texture and the stark monochrome palette reflect common practices in Renaissance‑inspired engravings.
History & Provenance
The image is derived from a composition originally devised by Raphael, the High Renaissance painter. The print reproduces his design, translating the painted scene into a reproducible medium for broader circulation.
Context
During the period when the print was produced, reproducing celebrated paintings in print form allowed devotional images to reach a wider audience. Such works often served both as objects of private piety and as visual references to renowned masterworks.
Artist & collection
Artist
Elisabetta Sirani (8 January 1638 – 28 August 1665) was an Italian Baroque painter and printmaker who died in unexplained circumstances at the age of 27.
Virgin and Child with the Infant St. John
Untitled
The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine
Madonna and Child with the Magdalen
The Holy Family
The Holy Family
Virgin and Child Trampling Sin
The Holy Family with Saint John
The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine
The Madonna of the Swallow
Holy Family with St. Margaret