The Virgin and Sleeping Child

mid 18th century

Giovanni Bottani, after Giuseppe Bottani

Associated Names
Giovanni Bottani

Artist, Italian, 1725 - 1804

Giuseppe Bottani

Artist, Italian, 1717 - 1784

The image shows the upper body of a seated woman holding a sleeping infant. The woman's head is slightly bowed, and her gaze is directed downward with her eyes closed. She has long hair that is covered with a light veil or cloth, falling gently around her face and shoulders. Her face is serene and finely-featured. She is dressed in flowing garments, consisting of layers of cloth that drape over her shoulders and arms. In her left hand, she gently supports the child, while her right hand rests on her chest. The infant rests peacefully on her lap, uncovered except for a simple cloth around the waist, with one arm behind its head in a relaxed posture. There is no jewelry visible on the woman or child. The background consists of a shaded area with a subtle texture, providing a simple and unobtrusive backdrop that emphasizes the figures. There is a caption at the bottom of the image, which reads "QVEM GENVIT ADORAVIT."

Media Options

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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(James A. Bergquist, Newton, MA); gift to NGA, 2015.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1906

  • Vesme, Alexandre de (Baudi di Vesme, Alessandro). Le peintre-graveur italien; ouvrage faisant suite au peintre-graveur de Bartsch. Milan: Ulrico Hoepli, 1906: no. 3

2000

  • Arcari, Gianluigi. "Incisioni," in Chiara Tellini Perina, in _Giuseppe Bottani (Cremona 1717 - Mantua 1784). Mantua, 2000: no.13

Inscriptions

lower center in plate: QVEM GENVIT ADORAVIT. / Peint par Joseph Bottani Gravé par Jean B.

Watermarks

present, but not identified

Wikidata ID

Q77008375

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