Maria met kind en Johannes de Doper en drie engelen

About this artwork

blad: hoogte 194 mm (boven afgesneden) x breedte 181 mm

Art Historical Context

Behold *Maria met kind en Johannes Doper en drie eng* (Mary with Child, John the Baptist, and Three), a delicate engraving by Italian artist Christoforo di Robetta, created between 1500 and1520. Measuring 194 mm high by 181 mm wide (with the top edge slightly trimmed), this intimate print captures a tender Renaissance vision of the Holy Family. Mary cradles the infant Christ, accompanied by the young John the Baptist and ethereal angels, evoking devotion and divine harmony. Robetta, active in early 16th-century Italy, exemplifies the Florentine Renaissance's mastery of printmaking. Engraving—a technique where fine lines are incised into a copper plate, inked, and pressed onto paper—allowed artists like him to produce detailed, reproducible images. This innovation democratized sacred art, making elaborate compositions accessible beyond elite patrons and workshops. Robetta's precise, intricate linework highlights flowing drapery, soft expressions, and graceful figures, blending Northern Italian elegance with emerging High Renaissance ideals. Culturally, such devotional scenes reinforced Catholic piety during a transformative era, just before the Reformation's upheavals. This small yet profound work invites contemplation, showcasing how engravings bridged painting and popular devotion, preserving Robetta's legacy in museum collections today.