Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist

By Santi di Tito, early 1570s
JPG • 3189 × 3864 PX • 1.6 MB
Curatorial Notes

Painted in the early 1570s, this work depicts the Virgin Mary accompanied by the Christ Child and the infant Saint John the Baptist. A particularly significant detail is the lamb held by John, symbolizing Christ, whom the Baptist would later identify as the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29). The Christ Child's gesture toward the animal establishes a symbolic connection between the Savior's infancy and his future sacrifice on the cross. Santi di Tito portrays the figures with natural expressions and affectionate gestures, moving away from the artificial poses characteristic of Mannerism, the prevailing artistic style in Florence at the time. According to the Metropolitan Museum, his painting recovers the simplicity and balance of earlier masters, particularly Raphael and Andrea del Sarto. The work belongs to a group of similar compositions produced by the artist, with other versions preserved at the Casa Martelli Museum in Florence and in a private collection. Its intimate, domestic character reflects the renewal of religious painting encouraged by the Catholic Reformation, which favored clear, accessible images capable of inspiring devotion among the faithful.

Artwork Identification

Title Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist
Title (PT) Virgem com o Menino e o Menino São João Batista
Title (ES) Virgen con el Niño y San Juan Bautista niño
Artist Santi di Tito
Artist Bio Santi di Tito (1536–1603) was an Italian painter, draftsman, and architect born in Florence, according to recent documentary research. He trained with artists associated with Mannerism, particularly Bronzino, and worked in Rome before returning to Florence, where he joined the Academy of Drawing in 1564. He became one of the leading figures in the renewal of Florentine religious painting following the Council of Trent, emphasizing greater naturalism, narrative clarity, and spiritual expression. He produced altarpieces, frescoes, portraits, and devotional paintings, while also training numerous pupils in his workshop.
Date early 1570s
Work Type Painting

Location & Collection

License Creative Commons Public Domain Mark 1.0
Ars Sancta