Madonna and Child on Clouds

Museum record 44750: Madonna and Child on Clouds by Federico Barocci. A verified entry point for discovery.

What to notice

For Madonna and Child on Clouds (record 44750), start with modern, expressive, atmospheric. Compare the focal subject, edge treatment, and atmosphere before moving on.

Discover

Federico Barocci’s tender etching is one of the first the artist completed. The intimate scale makes the work ideal for personal devotion. The infant Christ’s direct, beatific gaze at the viewer gently contrasts with the rapt adoration lavished on him by his sweet, youthful mother. The flying putto heads in the cloudburst on either side exude a sense of calm and protection, while the detail of the Virgin’s sandaled foot anchors the pyramidal group on what would otherwise be an insubstantial wisp of cloud…