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Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist in front of a townscape

ca. 1520–30
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 536
The group echoes the new harmonies that Raphael and his school brought to painting. Suggestive comparisons exist in Raphael-esque Madonnas engraved by Giulio Bonasone and Gian Giacomo Caraglio (who doubled as an engraver of hardstones), but the graceful composition is apparently unique to this piece. The cityscape in the background is executed in intaglio. The irregular chestnut-hued translucent band around the edge of the stone is void, probably because it was meant to be embedded in a gold setting.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist in front of a townscape
  • Date: ca. 1520–30
  • Culture: Italian, Milan
  • Medium: Sardonyx and gold
  • Dimensions: 1 3/16 x 1 in. (3 x 2.6 cm); Visible cameo: 29 × 25 mm
  • Classification: Lapidary Work-Gems
  • Credit Line: The Milton Weil Collection, 1938
  • Object Number: 38.150.4
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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