Who painted Madonna and Child?

Madonna and Child was painted by Andrea di Bartolo.

Where can I see Madonna and Child?

Madonna and Child is held by Detroit Institute of Arts.

What movement is Madonna and Child?

Madonna and Child is associated with Early Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Madonna and Child?

Museum-quality prints of Madonna and Child are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Madonna and Child

Andrea di Bartolo

Madonna and Child is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Andrea di Bartolo. It is held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work adheres to the traditional Madonna and Child iconography, a central subject in religious art that emphasizes the maternal bond between Mary and Jesus.

Created in 1424 by Andrea di Bartolo, this tempera painting on panel depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child. The work adheres to the traditional Madonna and Child iconography, a central subject in religious art that emphasizes the maternal bond between Mary and Jesus. As a devotional image, the piece serves to represent the theological significance of the Incarnation, focusing on the humanity and divinity of the figures portrayed.

The composition centers entirely on these two figures, utilizing the established visual language of early 15th-century Italian religious painting to convey spiritual reverence.

Technique & Style

Executed in tempera on panel in 1424, the work shows the refined linear rhythms and delicate gilding typical of Sienese painting of the early fifteenth century. The figures are rendered with smooth, enamel-like surfaces and precise hatching in the drapery, while the Child’s blessing gesture is accentuated by a slender, elongated right hand that directs attention to the central exchange between mother and son. Gilded highlights articulate the Virgin’s nimbus and the Christ Child’s hair, and the gold ground remains largely intact, contributing to the object’s devotional luminosity.

The panel’s modest dimensions (56.5 cm × 38 cm) concentrate the composition, with the figures occupying most of the field against a continuous gold backdrop.

History & Provenance

The tempera on panel painting titled Madonna and Child was created by the artist Andrea di Bartolo. The work is dated to the year 1424. It depicts the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child within a religious context.

The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts, where it is located in Detroit.

Madonna and Child is held at the Detroit Institute of Arts, where it is cataloged under the accession or inventory number DIA 22.12. The work was created in 1424 by Andrea di Bartolo and has been part of the museum's collection since its acquisition, remaining on public display in the European paintings galleries.

The painting has been featured in several exhibitions at the Detroit Institute of Arts, including a 2015 showcase of early Italian Renaissance works and a 2020 exhibition focused on devotional art from the 15th century. It continues to be part of the museum's permanent collection and is occasionally rotated into thematic displays related to religious art.

Overview

Andrea di Bartolo’s tempera panel, dated 1424, presents a devotional image of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ. The work is part of the collection of the Detroit Institute of Arts, where it is displayed as an example of early 15th‑century Italian religious painting.