The Virgin and Saint John the Evangelist 1490 - 1510

Curator: This drawing, likely from the late 15th or early 16th century, is attributed to Raffaellino del Garbo. Titled "The Virgin and Saint John the Evangelist," it’s rendered in ink and charcoal. What are your immediate impressions? Editor: There’s a quiet intensity to it, even though it's just a sketch. The figures have these sort of sad, almost imploring gazes. And I am immediately drawn to the expressiveness of their hands, how deliberately they’re positioned to lead your eye through the composition. Curator: Indeed. Garbo was working during a time when artistic patronage heavily influenced subject matter. Religious pieces such as this would have been quite common, fitting a need for devotional art in churches and private collections. We need to also remember that The Virgin and John held very important places in Christian symbolism as witnesses to the crucifixion of Christ. Editor: Right, and that’s conveyed, isn't it? Mary is iconic for all, but it goes without saying that the halo—a classic symbol of divinity—places her outside of earthly bounds. As the work suggests, she and John hold particular resonance; their relationship to Christ embodies grief, devotion, and understanding. I think it adds depth to the reading. Curator: The work may have been made in Florence during a time when artistic styles and iconography from earlier artists such as Filippo Lippi were quite important. Garbo would’ve been participating in a much longer history of visual representation in Florentine society. Editor: Look at John's hand gestures too. It's like he is calling the viewer as witness in all of this. Curator: I think your observations align perfectly. It is as if Garbo is pulling from collective cultural symbols to create a work steeped in emotion. Editor: Ultimately, I see an artwork of faith that feels deeply human. It's incredible how the symbols interact to produce such a powerful image. Curator: I concur. Examining this piece gives us an important peek into the Renaissance relationship between religion, patronage, and artistic skill.