Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John c. 1505

Fernando Yáñez de la Almedina painted ‘Madonna and Child with the Infant Saint John’ using oil on panel. The composition is classically pyramidal, lending stability to the figures, while the landscape behind subtly guides the eye upward, creating a sense of serene elevation. The colour palette is muted, drawing attention to the central figures. Note how Almedina uses soft modeling to define forms, yet the figures' expressions remain somewhat detached, inviting contemplation rather than emotional engagement. The landscape is rendered with a clear, almost topographic precision, suggesting an interest in naturalism balanced with idealized forms. The careful arrangement of figures within this structured landscape indicates a world governed by order and measured grace. The overall effect is one of restrained emotion, where formal harmony takes precedence. This control can be viewed as a reflection of its time, where even sacred subjects were composed to reflect larger philosophical ideas about balance.