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Madonna Adoring the Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist and an Angel

early 1490s
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 604

Circular paintings, or tondi, became popular in fifteenth-century Florence, particularly in the domestic sphere. They may have developed out of the tradition of painted birthing trays that were used to deliver gifts to new mothers. Tondi were commonly displayed in bedrooms, often above eye level. In this work, an angel introduces the infant John the Baptist—a patron saint of Florence—to his newborn cousin, Jesus, who is adored by his mother.

Lorenzo specialized in religious paintings and was a fervent follower of Girolamo Savonarola, a powerful religious and political reformer whose preaching had a profound effect on the art and culture of Florence.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Madonna Adoring the Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist and an Angel
  • Artist: Lorenzo di Credi (Lorenzo d'Andrea d'Oderigo) (Italian, Florence 1456/59–1536 Florence)
  • Date: early 1490s
  • Medium: Tempera on wood
  • Dimensions: Diameter 36 in. (91.4 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1909
  • Object Number: 09.197
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

More Artwork

More Artwork
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The Madonna Adoring the Child, with an Angel, Lorenzo di Credi (Lorenzo d'Andrea d'Oderigo) Italian, Pen and brown ink, traces of white, over red chalk underdrawing of the Madonna.
The Madonna Adoring the Child, with an Angel
Lorenzo di Credi (Lorenzo d'Andrea d'Oderigo)
early 16th century
Head of a Young Woman, Lorenzo di Credi (Lorenzo d'Andrea d'Oderigo) Italian, Metalpoint, heightened with white, on pink prepared paper; profile retouched in brownish chalk, hair retouched in black chalk, and highlights added to bust, all by a later hand.
Head of a Young Woman
Lorenzo di Credi (Lorenzo d'Andrea d'Oderigo)
late 15th–early 16th century
Portrait of a Young Woman, Lorenzo di Credi (Lorenzo d'Andrea d'Oderigo) Italian, Oil on wood
Portrait of a Young Woman
Lorenzo di Credi (Lorenzo d'Andrea d'Oderigo)
ca. 1490–1500
Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius, Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi) Italian, Tempera on wood
Three Miracles of Saint Zenobius
Botticelli (Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi)
ca. 1500
Portrait of a Woman with a Man at a Casement, Fra Filippo Lippi Italian, Tempera on wood
Portrait of a Woman with a Man at a Casement
Fra Filippo Lippi
ca. 1440

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