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The Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist

1722
Not on view
By trading the harmony of brown and yellow for the clash of red and green, Zanetti explored the impact of color on the appearance of his prints. The ochre inks in the work on the LEFT depict the shading of figures, drapery, and architecture within a narrow range of colors that evokes the restraint of a monochromatic image. The translation into red and green yields an unnatural palette that gives the scene an unsettling air. Such effects were easy to investigate with chiaroscuro woodcuts—images formed by successively printing multiple woodblocks, each in its own color.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist
  • Series/Portfolio: From an album assembled by Zanetti
  • Artist: Anton Maria Zanetti the Elder (Italian, Venice 1680–1767 Venice)
  • Artist: After Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola) (Italian, Parma 1503–1540 Casalmaggiore)
  • Date: 1722
  • Medium: Chiaroscuro woodcut, with dark brown line block and medium brown and mustard yellow tone blocks
  • Dimensions: 9 13/16 x 5 9/16 in. (25.0 x 14.2 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1932
  • Object Number: 32.12.2(16)
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

More Artwork

More Artwork
St. Andrew, Facing Forward, Head Turned to Left, Anton Maria Zanetti the Elder Italian, Chiaroscuro woodcut from three blocks in black, green, ochre, with border in gold ink and watercolor frame
St. Andrew, Facing Forward, Head Turned to Left
Anton Maria Zanetti the Elder
After Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola)
before 1749
Lobster-Tail Burgonet, Steel, leather, gold, North Italian
Lobster-Tail Burgonet
North Italian
ca. 1610
A Woman Standing at the Foot of a Tree Holding an Infant, with a Seated Boy, Anton Maria Zanetti the Elder Italian, Chiaroscuro woodcut, with black line block and olive green tone block
A Woman Standing at the Foot of a Tree Holding an Infant, with a Seated Boy
Anton Maria Zanetti the Elder
After Parmigianino (Girolamo Francesco Maria Mazzola)
1724
Diversarum Iconum...Series Secunda, Anton Maria Zanetti the Elder Italian, Chiaroscuro woodcuts, etchings, and engravings
Diversarum Iconum...Series Secunda
Anton Maria Zanetti the Elder
1749
Armor, Steel, copper alloy, textile, leather, Italian
Armor
Italian
ca. 1400–1450 and later

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