The Virgin and Child with Saints Jerome and Francis (after Raphael's painting in the Gemaldegalerie, Staatliche Museum, Berlin, No 145)

The Virgin and Child with Saints Jerome and Francis

Artist: Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino)

Medium: Oil on canvas

Artistic and Historical Impact: "The Virgin and Child with Saints Jerome and Francis" is a testament to Raphael's mastery in religious compositions, reflecting the High Renaissance's emphasis on harmony and clarity. The painting is an interpretation of Raphael's original work housed in the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, showcasing his influence on subsequent artists who sought to emulate his style. Raphael's ability to convey serene divinity and human emotion in religious figures contributed significantly to the development of Renaissance art.

Biographical Context: Raphael, born in 1483 in Urbino, Italy, was a pivotal figure of the High Renaissance, renowned for his contributions to painting and architecture. His works are celebrated for their clarity of form and ease of composition, which have left a lasting legacy on Western art. Raphael's career, though tragically short due to his untimely death in 1520, was marked by numerous commissions from the Vatican, solidifying his status as one of the great masters of his time.

The Virgin and Child with Saints Jerome and Francis is an oil on canvas painting attributed to Raphael, depicting the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, accompanied by Saints Jerome and Francis. The artwork reflects the High Renaissance style, characterized by balanced composition and harmonious proportions, and is based on Raphael's original housed in the Gemäldegalerie, Staatliche Museum, Berlin.