Maria met kind en H. Johannes

The drawing Maria met kind en H. Johannes by Claude Lorrain dates from the active period of 1635-1645, a time when the artist was establishing his reputation in Rome. Executed in chalk on paper, this intimate rendering falls under the classification of a figure study or finished cabinet drawing. Lorrain, primarily famed for his idealized classical landscapes, here focuses on a traditional biblical subject: the Virgin Mary presenting the infant Christ, accompanied by the young Saint John the Baptist.

This piece illustrates Lorrain’s skill in using chalk to quickly establish form and volume. The technique, favoring expressive lines and strong tonal contrast, defines the figures and suggests their interaction without the need for the elaborate background settings typical of his oil paintings. Though fundamentally associated with the development of the heroic landscape genre during the Roman Baroque era, this drawing confirms Lorrain’s ongoing dedication to figure work, which was essential for populating his often monumental painted compositions.

The work is part of the extensive collection of Old Master Drawings housed at the Rijksmuseum. Drawings such as this often served as models for reproduction, contributing significantly to the dissemination of artistic ideas across Europe through commercially produced prints. This study provides direct insight into the composition process of the master, demonstrating how he carefully plotted figure placement and drapery before transferring the design to a more permanent medium. As key works of European art history, high-resolution images of pieces like this are often released into the public domain, ensuring widespread academic access. The preservation of this chalk drawing allows modern viewers to appreciate the foundational stages of Lorrain’s artistic practice during his most prolific decades in Italy.