The Virgin and child with the infant Saint John the Baptist, with the Christ child lying on her lap and turning to kiss the Baptist

Art Historical Context

This tender lithograph from 1836 captures a classic Renaissance devotional scene: the Virgin cradling the infant Christ Child on her lap as he turns to kiss the young Saint John the Baptist. Attributed to Lorenzo Lotto, the renowned 16th-century Italian painter the Venetian school, it echoes his distinctive style—intimate, expressive Madonnas infused with emotional warmth and subtle psychological depth. Lotto often depicted such holy family groupings to evoke piety and human connection, making sacred figures relatable to everyday worshippers. Printed by Franz Hanfstängl, with possible involvement from Vincenzo Tamagni, this work exemplifies 19th-century lithography's rise as a democratic medium. Invented decades earlier, lithography allowed precise reproduction of paintings at scale, bringing Lotto's masterpiece to wider audiences through its chalky, painterly tones and fine details. Measuring about 16½ by 12¾ inches, it highlights the technique's ability to mimic oil textures on stone-transferred plates. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, gifted in 1924, this print bridges Renaissance spirituality and Romantic-era revivalism, reminding us how art fosters enduring faith across centuries. A perfect gem for contemplating maternal love in divine form!