Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John the Baptist

Lorenzo di Credi trained alongside the young Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) and fell under his spell. This painting is particularly indebted to the influence of Leonardo in the softness of the Virgin's face and the way the drapery closely follows the contours of her right arm and leg. The tree in the background is an arbutus or strawberry tree, whose leaves were used for medicinal purposes; therefore the painting may have been intended to invoke the Virgin's protection against illness. The townscape in the background is indistinct, possibly due to the effects of over-cleaning in the 19th century, which removed some of the surface detail.

Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust