Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist 1764 - 1795

Francesco Bartolozzi created this print of the Madonna and Child with St. John the Baptist using etching and engraving. The composition is dominated by flowing lines and a soft, diffused light, creating a tender and serene mood. The figures are arranged in a pyramidal structure, a common compositional technique used to convey stability and harmony. Bartolozzi masterfully employs the contrast between light and shadow to define form, notice the delicate hatching that models the figures' drapery and skin, giving them a sense of depth and volume. This emphasis on line and form aligns with the neoclassical ideals that were prevalent during Bartolozzi's time. The print invites a semiotic interpretation, where the Madonna represents divine motherhood, and John the Baptist, faith. The dove held by one child, becomes a signifier of peace and divine love. Ultimately, Bartolozzi's Madonna and Child exists as part of a dialogue between classical ideals and religious themes, inviting continuous contemplation.