The Christ Child and the Infant John the Baptist with a Lamb

The Christ Child and the Infant John the Baptist with a Lamb from 1519 by Luini at the National Gallery of Canada treats a popular devotional subject—the meeting of the two holy children—with characteristic Lombard sweetness. The lamb symbolizes Christ's future sacrifice Oil on canvas, increasingly preferred over panel in the sixteenth century, offered greater flexibility for large-scale compositions It is now held at The National Gallery in London, where it can be compared with other major wor

The two children and the lamb are rendered with Luini's gentle sfumato and warm coloring, the tender interaction creating an image of innocent devotion.