Seated Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist, a book rests under the Virgin's proper left hand, the Christ Child reaches toward Saint John, a wall and curtain dividing the figures from landscape beyond

Art Historical Context

Carlo Maratti created this intimate etching in 1647, early in his long career as a leading Roman artist of the Baroque period. The composition presents the Virgin Mary seated with the Christ Child on her lap, reaching toward the young Saint John the Baptist. A book rests beneath her hand, while a wall curtain gently separate the holy figures from the landscape beyond, creating a sense of sacred enclosure. Etching allowed Maratti to achieve delicate lines and subtle tonal contrasts in a small format, making religious subjects widely accessible through prints. This work reflects the enduring popularity of the Madonna and Child with Saint John theme in Counter-Reformation Italy, where such images reinforced devotional themes of divine love and childhood innocence. The modest sheet size—just over six inches high—suggests it was designed for private contemplation rather than grand display. Today in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, the print preserves Maratti’s refined draftsmanship and offers visitors a glimpse into seventeenth-century printmaking traditions.

About the Artist

Carlo Maratti · 1625–1713

Son of a Dalmatian father. Known as the last major Italian artist of the classical tradition, which had originated with Raphael. He created a grandiose and decorative style that was valued by his ecclesiastical patrons. Comment on works: History; Religious.