Virgin with Jesus and John the Baptist 

This is a print of the Virgin with Jesus and John the Baptist, made by Giovanni Battista Piranesi in Italy, sometime in the mid-18th century. The image portrays the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus on her lap and John the Baptist standing beside them holding a cross. Produced in the wake of the Enlightenment, we see a renewed interest in classical and religious themes, yet also a subtle shift towards more humanistic interpretations. The work can be seen as commenting on the social structures of its time, presenting a tender image of maternal love and religious devotion. To fully understand this print, research into the religious and artistic conventions of 18th-century Italy would be invaluable. One could explore religious texts, art criticism, and historical accounts to uncover the various layers of meaning embedded within the image. The interpretation of art is contingent on its social and institutional context, it is the historian’s job to understand that.