The Virgin of the Rocks
1650
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
1650
From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst
This painting shows three figures in a rocky cave. A woman in a blue dress holds a golden object, while two babies reach toward her. Another woman in red kneels beside them, her hand pointing at one child. The background is dark with faint city lights glowing in the distance. The woman’s face is softly lit, making her stand out against the shadows. The babies look real, with tiny details like wrinkles and curls. This kind of lighting is called *chiaroscuro*.
