Artwork
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Antoniazzo Romano. It dates from 1492 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the Christ Child, a Virgo Lactans pose, with both figures surrounded by halos and the Child resting on a cushion. Dated to 1482 and classified as a religious work, it exemplifies the Madonna and Child theme, highlighting the maternal bond and the intimate, tender relationship between mother and divine infant.
Technique & Style
As a product of the late 15th century, the piece exemplifies the period's devotional iconography through its formal treatment of the mother and child subjects.
Created in 1482, this religious painting by Antoniazzo Romano is executed in tempera on a wooden panel support. The work depicts the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the Christ Child, a composition framed by halos and a cushion. The physical dimensions of the panel measure 35.9 centimeters in height and 25.7 centimeters in width.
As a product of the late 15th century, the piece exemplifies the period's devotional iconography through its formal treatment of the mother and child subjects. The medium of tempera on panel was a standard technique for such religious works during this era, allowing for the detailed rendering of the figures' features and the symbolic elements surrounding them.
History & Provenance
Created in 1482 by the Italian painter Antoniazzo Romano, this panel painting depicts the Madonna and Child. The work, executed in tempera on a wooden support measuring approximately 36 by 26 centimeters, portrays the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the Christ Child while seated on a cushion. Both figures are adorned with halos, adhering to traditional religious iconography of the period.
The painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains part of the institution's holdings of religious art. While the specific original commissioner and the detailed ownership chain prior to its museum acquisition are not specified in the available records, the work's inception is firmly dated to the early 1480s.
The panel painting Madonna and Child, executed by Antoniazzo Romano in 1482, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, which depicts the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the Christ Child, remains part of this institution's holdings. While the sources confirm the artwork's current location and its creation date, they do not provide specific inventory or accession numbers, nor do they list any past or current exhibitions in which the piece has been displayed.
Overview
This painting, titled Madonna and Child, depicts a woman tenderly holding a young child. Rendered on a panel, the artwork presents a serene composition. Both figures are distinguished by halos, signifying their sacred nature.
The overall impression is one of quiet contemplation, characteristic of devotional art. The piece exhibits signs of age, with visible craquelure across its surface.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Antonio di Benedetto Aquilo degli Aquili (c. 1430 – c. 1510), known as Antoniazzo Romano, was an Italian Early Renaissance painter, the leading figure of the Roman school during the latter part of the 15th century He…
