The Sleeping Christ Child

The Sleeping Christ Child from around 1630 at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston shows Gentileschi treating a tender devotional subject. Though best known for dramatic narratives, she also painted intimate devotional works that demonstrate her range as an artist. Artemisia Gentileschi's powerfully direct treatment of female subjects—heroines, saints, and biblical figures depicted with unprecedented psychological force and physical credibility—makes her one of the most significant figures in the Baroque tradition.

The sleeping infant is rendered with warm Caravaggist lighting and naturalistic modeling. Gentileschi's sensitive treatment of the child's features creates an image of peaceful innocence.