The use of forceful chiaroscuro (modeling in light and shade) is characteristic of tiepolo's images of the madonna and child that were intended for private devotion. There is an element of melancholy in the way in which the virgin embraces her son. This suggests that they both perceive his future fate, and the motif alludes to the traditional image of the pietà, in which the virgin mourns over the body of her dead son. She is often shown near or against a column, which here is meant to convey her nobility and strength. These small images for private use are primarily from early in tiepolo's career, before he was in great demand for large-scale commissions. Object Type: painting. Genre: religious art. Date: between circa 1720 and circa 1725 (Baroque). Place of creation: Venice, Italy. Dimensions: Painted surface height: 64.3 cm (25.3 in); width: 48.3 cm (19 in). Medium: oil on canvas. Depicted People: Mary, Christ Child. Collection: Walters Art Museum. Giovanni Battista Tiepolo - Virgin and Child - Walters 371120
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