Virgin and Child

The Virgin and Child is a significant religious print created between 1485 and 1491 by the Workshop of Andrea Mantegna Italian, 1431-1506. This piece, classified as an engraving, was executed in black ink upon buff laid paper. Mantegna was a towering figure of the early Renaissance in Northern Italy, renowned for his rigorous, almost sculptural approach to human forms and deep interest in classical antiquity. Although this specific work was produced by his workshop, it captures the master's signature style, characterized by sharply defined contours and monumental figures set against a dramatic, often spare background.

The late fifteenth century marked a crucial moment for the development of prints in Italy, allowing religious compositions like this one to be widely disseminated among patrons. The demanding technique of engraving, involving incising lines directly into a copper plate, gives the work its characteristic precision and deep contrasts. This piece reflects the period’s demand for high-quality devotional imagery, fusing Renaissance classicism with intense religious expression. Works produced by the prolific workshop of Mantegna maintained a high standard, ensuring that the visual influence of the Paduan-Veronese master extended throughout the Italian peninsula.

This intricate example, demonstrating the high caliber of early Renaissance prints created under Mantegna’s direction, is preserved today in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The enduring nature of such printed media has allowed the composition to survive over the centuries. As the image is now part of the museum’s freely accessible digitized collection, high-quality reproductions often fall into the public domain, making detailed study of this historic work accessible to scholars and enthusiasts worldwide.