Virgin and Child with Saint Elizabeth and the Infant Saint John the Baptist 1628 - 1629

Jacques Blanchard painted “Virgin and Child with Saint Elizabeth and the Infant Saint John the Baptist” with oil on canvas sometime in the 17th century. This work exemplifies the aims of French Baroque classicism, in which the expression of religious sentiment and idealism are achieved through painterly technique, harmonious composition, and muted color. The holy figures are grouped in a carefully posed pyramid reminiscent of High Renaissance art. Yet we know that in its own time, Blanchard’s work represented a departure from the dominant style of French painting. While other French artists looked to Rome for inspiration, Blanchard spent years in Venice studying the works of Titian and Veronese. In this painting, we can see their influence in the artist’s soft brushwork, warm palette, and the emphasis on color over line. Blanchard’s paintings mark a move away from the old academic style towards a more sensual, expressive mode of painting. To better understand Blanchard, we can look to period sources – academy records, letters between artists, and contemporary art criticism. These resources help us understand the place of “Virgin and Child” within the artistic culture of its time.