Title: Madonna and Child with the Infant John the Baptist,

Artist: Bronzino, Agnolo (1503-1572)

Date: c 1540-1550

Technique: Oil on Panel, Portland Art Museum

Annunciation of Passion: passing on the cross from St. John to Jesuss

  Precursor awaiting Jesus' death

  Virgin pays equal attention to both children

  Jesus straddles across her right thigh

  Virgin sits at a pivot: legs and arms point in one devotion; her head is turned in another direction.

  Messiah more active than precursor

  No figure proposed to imitate; no figure regards in our direction.