The Infant Saint John Asleep

Murillo's depictions of the Christ Child asleep and the Infant Saint John were extremely popular during the seventeenth century because of their persuasive blend of humanity and doctrine. This painting is an attempt to evoke the type of style and iconography employed by Murillo. relates to the type of iconography established by Murillo's Christ Child Resting on the Cross (Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield) and its pendant, the Infant Saint John the Baptist (Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry, Boughton House, Kettering).