The Virgin and Child with St John the Baptist and St Lawrence

This work, attributed to Italian Mannerism, has been badly damaged and was restored several times. In it, we see a very young Mary, with the Infant Jesus on her lap. He is standing supported by his mother and holding on to her. His right foot is resting on a globe, symbolising the Saviour of the World, and with his right hand he is blessing St John the Baptist, who is standing on the right of the picture with his arms folded piously. He is wearing camel hair, alluding to his life in the desert, and is holding a cross made of cane, with a ribbon with the Latin inscription ECCE AGNUS DEI, alluding to the Saviour’s fate. St Lawrence is a little further away in the background, holding a martyr’s palm and leaning on a grid iron symbolising his torture. The image resembles the Italian compositions called Sacra Conversazione (Sacred Conversation), where Mary and Jesus are surrounded by groups of different saints. St John the Baptist is very frequently portrayed in these groups.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė
Expositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė)

This work, attributed to Italian Mannerism, has been badly damaged and was restored several times. In it, we see a very young Mary, with the Infant Jesus on her lap. He is standing supported by his mother and holding on to her. His right foot is resting on a globe, symbolising the Saviour of the World, and with his right hand he is blessing St John the Baptist, who is standing on the right of the picture with his arms folded piously. He is wearing camel hair, alluding to his life in the desert, and is holding a cross made of cane, with a ribbon with the Latin inscription ECCE AGNUS DEI, alluding to the Saviour’s fate. St Lawrence is a little further away in the background, holding a martyr’s palm and leaning on a grid iron symbolising his torture. The image resembles the Italian compositions called Sacra Conversazione (Sacred Conversation), where Mary and Jesus are surrounded by groups of different saints. St John the Baptist is very frequently portrayed in these groups.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė
Expositions: “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė)