The Virgin and Saint John the Evangelist c. 1520

"The Virgin and Saint John the Evangelist" is a small oil painting by the Dutch artist Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen, created around 1520. The painting depicts the Virgin Mary weeping while Saint John the Evangelist, in a gesture of empathy, wipes his eye with his hand. The work is notable for its realistic portrayal of emotion and the intimate scale, common for private devotional art. The richly colored and meticulously detailed painting showcases van Oostsanen's mastery of Northern Renaissance art, highlighting the emotional intensity of a pivotal moment in Christian tradition. The painting currently resides in the Art Institute of Chicago.