On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P00964
- Author
- Murillo, Bartolomé Esteban (Spanish)
- Title
- The Holy Children with a Shell
- Chronology
- Ca. 1670
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 104 cm x 124 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- Yes
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
The Christ child holds a shell for
his cousin John to drink. The
latter is identified by the cross
and by a lamb. In the sky, the
heavens open to reveal cherubs who
witness the scene, making it holy.
The phrase “Ecce Agnus Dei” on the
cross's banner alludes to Christ's
condition as the Lamb of God.
Murillo plays with the charm of
subjects related to children, which
were quite customary in his work,
but at the same time, he
foreshadows the baptism of Christ
by John on the banks of the Jordan
River.
The composition comes from a print
by Guido Reni that was, in turn,
inspired by Annibale
Carracci.
It entered the Royal Collection
through Queen Isabel Farnesio, a
great collector of Murillo's work.
Location on the map
