The Virgin Warms Jesus' Hands in the Fire 1759

This 1759 etching by Jean Baptiste Marie Pierre depicts a scene from the infancy of Jesus Christ. The Virgin Mary kneels before a fire and warms her son's tiny hands. A figure stands by watching, possibly St. Joseph, while a cherub carrying firewood observes from the right. The artwork's composition creates a sense of intimacy and tenderness. The artist's meticulous attention to detail is evident in the fine lines and subtle shading of the figures and landscape. The etching, a printmaking technique using an acid-resistant metal plate, was a popular method for reproducing images in the 18th century.