Virgin and Christ Child with John the Baptist

This etching depicts a familiar theme, the Madonna and Child, with the young John the Baptist. The Christ Child sits on his mother's knee taking fruit held in a cloth by the young John the Baptist. At bottom right is a lamb, John's familiar symbol.

Orazio Farinati (1559-1616) was born in Verona. He was the principal assistant to his father, the better-known Paolo Farinati, and worked in Paolo's studio until 1606. His style owes much to that of his father and sometimes even directly copies it. Orazio was also active in engraving his own work and that of other Veronese and Venetian masters and in this instance, Orazio's etching is based on a drawing by Paolo. It is part of the collection in the so-called King George Album of Old Master prints, purchased by the Dominion Museum in 1910.

Dr Mark Stocker  Curator, Historical International Art      March 2017