The 'Virgin with the long thigh' sitting with the Christ Child, St John the Baptist and St Joseph
Original title: The 'Virgin with the long thigh' sitting with the Christ Child, St John the Baptist and St Joseph
kurzbeschreibung
Marcantonio Raimondi made this engraving around 1518–19. It presents the enthroned Virgin with the Christ Child on her lap, flanked by John the Baptist and Saint Joseph. A familiar family scene is set against an antique landscape of ruins, giving the devotional subject an unusual depth.
Description
Mary sits on a stone block, the Christ Child resting on her lap while she touches him gently. At the left Joseph kneels, pointing an arrow toward the child's head; beside him John the Baptist steps forward and engages with the infant Jesus. Ruins and a bridge behind the figures place the event in an ancient setting. The figures wear traditional Renaissance dress, and the arrangement is built symmetrically around the mother and child. Light falls evenly, without harsh shadows, and the palette stays monochrome black and white.
Context
Raimondi ranked among the leading engravers of the Italian Renaissance and was prized for his reproductions after designs by Raphael and others. This print belongs to a period of intense collaboration with Raphael, whose influence can be felt in the grouping of figures and the classical ruins. The unusual nickname 'with the long thigh' refers to the elongated rendering of Mary's leg, a motif discussed in the art of the period as a mannerist trait.
Impact
Symmetry and calm, even lighting give the print a poised and solemn presence. The antique ruins lend the scene a timeless, elevated air, while the familiar interaction among the figures conveys intimacy and devotion.
Technique
Engraving is a printmaking process in which the design is cut into a copper plate and then pulled on paper. Raimondi worked with fine, precise lines to draw out detail and shading, typical of his virtuoso burin technique. Even hatching and clear contours show his mastery in translating painted models into print.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)