The Virgin and Child with the Pear

1511

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

The Virgin and Child with the Pear is a 1511 by Albrecht Dürer, a Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Albrecht Dürer
When & what style?: 1511 · Renaissance
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

The painting shows the Virgin and Child sitting by a tree, with the Child looking at the viewer and the Virgin holding a pear. The Virgin is trying to distract the Child with the pear, which is a natural moment between a mother and child. This scene is a quiet moment away from the city. You can see more artwork like this at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

The story of this work

Overview

Dürer portrays the Virgin and Child on an outing away from the city in this relatively casual moment in which they rest beside a tree. As the Christ child looks directly toward the viewer to bestow a blessing, his young mother tries to redirect his attention to the pear in her hand. Here, Dürer emphasizes the natural actions of a mother trying to distract her child. Although Mary knows his holy mission and tragic destiny, she still attempts to prolong her child’s joyful youth with innocent amusements. Dürer demonstrates his further technical and artistic development in this medium through the…

Read the full account in the museum source.