The Virgin and Child with St. Elizabeth and John the Baptist, called 'The Virgin of the Palm Tree' 1500 - 1534

"The Virgin of the Palm Tree," a 16th-century engraving by Marcantonio Raimondi, depicts the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, St. Elizabeth, and John the Baptist. This print, part of a series of engravings based on Raphael's designs, showcases the beauty and grace of the Renaissance style. Mary is depicted as a young and elegant figure, her dress flowing gracefully around her, with the Christ Child nestled in her lap. John the Baptist, kneeling in the foreground, holds a cross and gazes at the infant Jesus. The detailed landscape behind them, featuring a prominent palm tree, adds depth and context to the scene. This engraving, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a fine example of Raimondi's skillful mastery of the engraving technique.