Madonna and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist 1492 - 1502

This painting, "Madonna and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist," by Fra Bartolomeo, depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child. The infant Jesus is in a pose of blessing, while John the Baptist, a youthful figure, gazes towards the viewer. The figures are set in a traditional Renaissance architectural setting with a landscape view beyond a window. Fra Bartolomeo was a Florentine painter who was influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, and his painting is characterized by a sense of calm and serenity. The work dates back to the early 16th century and is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.