Artwork
Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child is an oil painting by the Spanish Baroque Tenebrist artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The imagery emphasizes the maternal bond and the theological significance of the Incarnation, presenting the figures as the primary subjects of the scene.
The work depicts the Madonna and Child, a central subject in religious art representing the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child. The composition focuses on the intimate relationship between the mother and her son, portraying Mary as a woman and mother alongside the boy Jesus. As an oil painting on canvas created in 1660, the piece belongs to the genre of religious art.
The imagery emphasizes the maternal bond and the theological significance of the Incarnation, presenting the figures as the primary subjects of the scene.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1660, this religious painting by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work depicts the Madonna and Child, focusing on the figures of Mary and the young Christ. Measuring 188 cm in height and 137.5 cm in width, the composition adheres to the conventions of seventeenth-century devotional art.
The available records confirm the medium and dimensions but do not provide specific details regarding the artist's brushwork, the current condition of the surface, or the history of its physical handling.
History & Provenance
The work was painted circa 1660 by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo as a devotional image of the Virgin and Child in oil on canvas measuring 188 cm in height and 137.5 cm in width. It entered the Dutch royal collection after being acquired by William I of the Netherlands, later passing into the holdings of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
The painting Virgin and Child by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Created in 1660, this oil on canvas work depicts the Madonna and Child. Historical records indicate the artwork was previously associated with the collections of the Mauritshuis, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, and the private collection of William I before its current location.
The Rijksmuseum maintains the piece as part of its religious art holdings, where it remains accessible to the public.
Overview
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's Virgin and Child, painted in oil around 1660, depicts the Madonna holding the infant Christ. This Spanish Baroque work, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, exemplifies Murillo's characteristic approach to religious themes. The composition features Mary seated on a cloud, tenderly supporting the young boy, rendered with a blend of devotional reverence and lifelike observation.
Context
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo was a prominent figure in 17th-century Spanish painting, celebrated for his religious compositions. While deeply engaged with devotional subjects, he also incorporated a keen observation of everyday life, often depicting women and children with remarkable realism. This painting illustrates his ability to combine spiritual narrative with an approachable, naturalistic style, a hallmark of his extensive output that captured both sacred moments and contemporary existence.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo ( mure-IL-oh, m(y)uu-REE-oh, Spanish:; late December 1617, baptised 1 January 1618 – 3 April 1682) was a Spanish Baroque painter.
