Pinturicchio “The Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist” Poldi Pezzoli Museum in Milan in Italy

Pinturicchio, The Virgin and Child

Pinturicchio (1452 — 11 December 1513) “The Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist”

Painting - Tempera on wood (79 x 80.6 cm) 1490 — 1500

The Madonna is placed in front of a tapestry embroidered with gold, with a landscape in the background. She is wearing a scarlet dress under a black coat with a gold embroidered border.

Jesus is standing to bless Saint John the Baptist, who comes forward, offering him his cross with a banner that he grabs as a sign of acceptance.

Saint John the Baptist is dressed in his camel skin tunic and a red cloak like the Madonna's dress, while Jesus is naked but wearing sandals of the same red blood.

Pinturicchio, The Virgin and Child On the far left side of the landscape, Pinturicchio represented the Three Kings on their way to Bethlehem, passing a fortified city, while on the right is the flight into Egypt with Mary sitting on a donkey holding the Infant Jesus in her arms, accompanied by Joseph.

The details are beautifully painted, from the jewel and the little red sandals of Jesus through the camel skin of the Saint John the Baptist tunic to the delicate embroidery of the clothes and the carvings of the cross.

The visual construction of the painting is pyramidal and emanates from it an incredible softness.

Pinturicchio, The Virgin and Child