The Virgin holding the infant Christ, a circular composition, after Reni
ca. 1600–40
Medium
Etching
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 6 1/8 × 6 1/8 in. (15.5 × 15.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1951
Accession Number
51.501.5019
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate etching, titledThe Virgin Holding the Infant Christ, a Circular, after Reni*, a tender moment of maternal devotion from the early 17th century. by an anonymous artist inspired the renowned Baroque master Guido Reni (1575–1642), it depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the baby Jesus in a harmonious, rounded tondo format—a shape evoking Renaissance medallions and classical ideals. Reni, a Bolognese painter celebrated for his graceful figures and luminous elegance, influenced countless reproductions like this one, blending Raphael's classical serenity with Baroque emotional depth. Etch...
About the Artist
Guido Reni|Anonymous, 17th century · 1575–1642
Guido Reni (1575–1642) was one of the most celebrated Italian painters of the Baroque era and the dominant figure of the Bolognese School. Born into a family of musicians in Bologna, he trained first with Denys Calvaert before joining the influential Accademia degli Incamminati led by Ludovico Carracci. Reni achieved international fame through his idealizing style that combined Baroque dynamism wi...