Correggio (Antonio Allegri)
Italian, c. 1494­1534
Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the 
Baptist
c. 1515
Oil on poplar panel transferred to processed wood support
64.2 x 50.2 cm
Clyde M. Carr Fund, 1965.688

Correggio and other Renaissance artists often painted themes from the Bible. The Gospel according to Luke tells that John the Baptist and Jesus met as children, because their mothers were relatives. Here Correggio shows the first, happy meeting between John the Baptist and his cousin Jesus. The thin, golden haloes tell us these are holy people. The colors used in such Christian paintings are often suggestive. The red of Mary’s dress is a reminder of the blood that Jesus will shed at his death. The blue of Mary’s robe indicates that she will be honored as Queen of Heaven.