Artwork
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Ambrogio Bergognone. It is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a religious painting from 1550, the piece depicts the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, adhering to the devotional genre conventions of the period.
Ambrogio Bergognone's Madonna and Child is executed in oil paint applied to a panel support. The work measures 52.7 cm in height and 44.1 cm in width. As a religious painting from 1550, the piece depicts the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, adhering to the devotional genre conventions of the period.
The physical medium combines the durability of the wooden panel with the rich tonal qualities characteristic of oil techniques used by the artist.
History & Provenance
Ambrogio Bergognone created the oil-on-panel painting Madonna and Child in 1550. The work depicts the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. Its ownership history includes Auguste du Blaisel, followed by Peter II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg, and subsequently Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg. The painting was eventually transferred to the Rijksmuseum, where it is associated with the Augusteum location.
The work is held by the Rijksmuseum in its Augusteum, forming part of the museum's collection and formerly belonging to the Grand ducal collection of Oldenburg. It is an oil‑on‑panel painting dated 1550, measuring 52.7 cm × 44.1 cm, and is attributed to Ambrogio Bergognone. Its provenance includes ownership by Auguste du Blaisel, Peter II, and later members of the Oldenburg dynasty such as Frederick Augustus II. No exhibition records are documented in the available sources.
Overview
Ambrogio Bergognone, an Italian Renaissance painter, created Madonna and Child in oil paint around 1550. This painting depicts the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, a common religious theme of the era. The work is characterized by its serene atmosphere and is currently housed in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a tender interaction between the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. Mary is shown seated, adorned in a red dress, black cloak, and white headscarf, while the child rests on her lap. The child holds a rosary and gestures towards an open book on a nearby table, suggesting themes of prayer and scripture.
A cityscape is visible through a window in the background, grounding the sacred scene in a worldly context.
Context
Ambrogio Bergognone was an Italian painter primarily active in the region of Milan during the Renaissance. His work frequently explored religious subjects, with depictions of the Madonna and Child being a staple genre. This painting exemplifies the devotional art commissioned and appreciated during a period of significant religious fervor and artistic innovation in Northern Italy.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Ambrogio Bergognone (variously known as Ambrogio da Fossano, Ambrogio di Stefano da Fossano, Ambrogio Stefani da Fossano or as il Bergognone or Ambrogio Egogni, c.
- Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child
The Virgin and Child
Mary with Child
Madonna and Child
Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child
Triptych with Madonna and Child Enthroned Between the Archangel Michael and Saint Peter
Madonna and Child