Artwork
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child is a print by the Romanticist artist Peltro William Tomkins. It dates from 10 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Madonna and Child is a print reproduction of a Raphael painting, engraved by Peltro William Tomkins in 1808. Published in London as part of the British Gallery of Pictures, it translates the Renaissance original into a printed format.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus on her lap, set against a serene, distant landscape. The composition conveys a sense of gentle maternal care and tranquility, emphasizing the emotional bond between the figures.
Technique & Style
Employing engraving techniques, Tomkins' print captures the soft, flowing robes and the subtle play of light and shadow from the original. The work's quiet warmth reflects the transitional aesthetic between the precise lines of Renaissance reproductions and the emerging emphasis on emotional depth.
History & Provenance
Produced in 1808 by Peltro William Tomkins, this engraving was published in London as Plate 3 of the second series of the British Gallery of Pictures, serving as a accessible reproduction of Raphael's work for a broader audience.
Context
Created during the early 19th century, the print intersects with the burgeoning Romantic movement, which valued intense emotion and the beauty of nature—elements subtly present in the depiction's serene landscape and the figures' gentle interaction.
Artist & collection
