Virgin and Child with the young St John the Baptist thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Virgin and Child with the young St John the Baptist

Relief
1475-1500 (made)
Artist/Maker
Da Maiano, Benedetto (after)
Place of origin
Florence (made)

This composition, of which several examples are known, including a variant in the Museum (V&A: 860-1891), dates from a late phase of Benedetto da Maiano's career. The present relief may be a contemporary squeeze (cast) after an original in another material, or it may have been designed specifically for replication. The painted lunette above, with the Trinity between two angels, is probably by Bartolommeo di Giovanni.

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Christianity
Religion
Object type
Relief
TitleVirgin and Child with the young St John the Baptist (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted and gilt terracotta, in a frame of carved, painted and gilt wood.
Terracotta
Wood
Painted
Gilded
Carved
Brief description
Virgin and Child with the young St John the Baptist, painted and gilt terracotta relief, after Benedetto da Maiano (1442-97), Italy (Florence), 1475-1500
Physical description
The relief, in painted and gilt terracotta, shows the Virgin holding Christ in her arms, while he blesses the young St John the Baptist who stands to their right. The wooden frame, probably painted by Bartolommeo di Giovanni, shows the Trinity flanked by two angels in the upper lunette.
Dimensions
  • Height of relief (not including frame) height: 57.2cm
  • Width of relief (not including frame) width: 44.5cm
  • Total (including frame) height: 111cm
  • Total (including frame) width: 68.3cm
  • Total (including frame) depth: 8cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Marks and inscriptions
Open book in centre foreground: 'MARIA HOM/INIBUS A/DEA.../EIS...' (left-hand page); 'APPARU/EIS CA.../...' (right-hand page). Inscribed at the bottom of the frame: 'AVE. SOLA. VIRGO. PARENS'
Object history
Purchased in Florence (Bardini £116).
Subjects depicted
Mary (Virgin Mary)
Jesus Christ
John (Saint John the Baptist)
Summary
This composition, of which several examples are known, including a variant in the Museum (V&A: 860-1891), dates from a late phase of Benedetto da Maiano's career. The present relief may be a contemporary squeeze (cast) after an original in another material, or it may have been designed specifically for replication. The painted lunette above, with the Trinity between two angels, is probably by Bartolommeo di Giovanni.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1890. Arranged according to the dates of acquisition, with appendix and indices. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1891. pp. 3
  • Kecks, Ronald G. Madonna und Kind. Das hauslich Andaxhtsbild im Florenz des 15. Jahrhunderts. Berlin. 1988. pp. 68, 120. pl. 50
  • Maclagan, E, and Longhurst, Margaret, H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. London: V&A, 1932. pp.57
  • Pope Hennessey, John, assisted by Lightbown, Ronald. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964. vol.1, pp.161-2
  • Religion als Motiv. Exh. Cat. Kunstmuseum. Magdeburg. 1997. pp. 32-3
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
5-1890

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Record createdFebruary 25, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O93895/virgin-and-child-with-the-relief-da-maiano-benedetto/
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