The Virgin seated with the Christ Child on her lap embracing her, Joseph seen through an archway at left, after Reni 1595 - 1618

This engraving, "The Virgin seated with the Christ Child on her lap embracing her, Joseph seen through an archway at left, after Reni", was created by Ventura Salimbeni. The composition of the image, predominantly rendered in dense hatching, centres on the tender embrace between the Virgin and Child. Salimbeni uses line and form to structure the emotional content of the scene. Notice how the Virgin’s figure is draped in voluminous fabric, creating a pyramidal shape, giving her a monumental presence. In contrast, the delicate lines which define the features of the figures draw our attention to the intimate moment between mother and child. The inclusion of Joseph in the background, framed by an archway, creates a spatial depth which encourages the viewer to consider the broader narrative context, yet the emotional focus remains on the foreground figures. Consider how the formal elements—the lines, shading, and spatial arrangement—contribute to a sense of sacred intimacy within a broader theological narrative. This artwork, like many others, invites us to reflect on the interplay between form and meaning.