Artwork
Madonna and Child with Saint Dorothy
Madonna and Child with Saint Dorothy is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Anthony van Dyck. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The religious genre and Marian focus position the image within the devotional tradition intended for private veneration.
The painting presents a traditional religious subject combining the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child and Saint Dorothy of Caesarea, a grouping that joins the central mystery of Christian devotion with a beloved early martyr. The Virgin and Child form the devotional core of the composition, while the inclusion of Saint Dorothy reflects her popularity as a patron of brides and gardeners, often shown with attributes such as flowers or a basket of fruit that allude to paradise and spiritual fertility.
By pairing the Madonna with a specifically named virgin saint, the work invites contemplation of female holiness across generations, linking the mother of Christ with a model of virginal steadfastness. The religious genre and Marian focus position the image within the devotional tradition intended for private veneration.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1622, this religious painting by Anthony van Dyck utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 103.5 cm in height and 136 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition depicts the Virgin Mary accompanied by the Christ Child and Saint Dorothy of Caesarea.
The piece is classified as a painting within the religious genre, reflecting the artist's engagement with sacred subjects during his early career.
History & Provenance
The painting Madonna and Child with Saint Dorothy was created by Anthony van Dyck in 1622. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 103.5 cm in height and 136 cm in width. Its earliest recorded ownership belongs to Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, who held the piece before it entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
The artwork is based on an earlier composition titled Virgin and Child, with Saint Dorothy. The piece depicts the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and Saint Dorothy of Caesarea within a religious context.
The painting is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. It was previously owned by Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria before entering the museum's holdings. The work depicts the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and Saint Dorothy.
Created in 1622, the oil on canvas measures 103.5 cm in height and 136 cm in width. The provided sources do not list specific inventory numbers or details regarding its exhibition history.
Context
Painted by Anthony van Dyck in 1622, this oil-on-canvas work depicts the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and Saint Dorothy of Caesarea. Executed during the artist's early period, the painting reflects the religious art conventions prevalent in the Flemish Baroque tradition. The composition is based on an earlier Virgin and Child with Saint Dorothy, indicating Van Dyck's engagement with established devotional iconography.
Currently held in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the work was part of the collection of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, highlighting its historical significance within European royal holdings. The painting measures 103.5 cm in height and 136 cm in width.
Overview
Created in 1622, this oil painting by Anthony van Dyck presents a tender grouping of the Virgin Mary, the infant Christ, and Saint Dorothy. The three figures occupy a modest interior illuminated by a soft, warm light that highlights their forms against a darkened background. The work is part of the Flemish Baroque tradition and is currently displayed in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Anthony van Dyck (; Dutch: Antoon van Dijck; 22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641) was a Flemish Baroque artist, who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Spanish Netherlands and Italy.
- Madonna and Child
Virgin and Child, with Saint Dorothy
The Virgin and Child with Saints Elizabeth and John
The Madonna and Child with a Female Saint and the Infant Saint John the Baptist
Madonna and Child with Saint Elizabeth and the Young Saint John
Holy Family with St Catharine and Young John the Baptist
Virgin and Child with Saint Elizabeth and the Infant Saint John the Baptist
Maria mit Kind und Engel
Madonna and Child with Saint Louis of Toulouse
Virgin and Child with Saint Elizabeth and the Infant Saint John the Baptist
Virgin and Child
Holy Family with Sts Catherine, Anne and John