Artifact World Gallery
Get the iOS app

Artwork

Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses

Domenico Beccafumi , 1525

Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses, by Domenico Beccafumi, oil, 1525
Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses, by Domenico Beccafumi, oil, 1525

Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses is an oil painting by the Mannerist artist Domenico Beccafumi. It dates from 1525 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This oil painting, 'Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses', is the work of Domenico Beccafumi, a Sienese artist active in the 16th century.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts Charity, a personification of Christian love, nursing a child, surrounded by three others at play. The scene illustrates the virtue of Charity, a key concept in medieval Christian theology, derived from the First Epistle to the Corinthians.

Technique & Style

Beccafumi's style is characterized by bold, vibrant colors and a focus on dramatic contrasts of light and shade. The figures in the painting display a natural or exaggerated elegance, with attention to the interplay between flesh tones and the decorative folds of drapery.

History & Provenance

The painting has been cut down from its original size and likely formed part of a larger piece of painted furniture, possibly accompanied by other roundels representing the theological virtues of Hope and Faith.

Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist, Saint Cecilia, and Angels
Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist, Saint Cecilia, and Angels, Piero di Cosimo

Artist & collection

Portrait of Domenico Beccafumi

Artist

Domenico Beccafumi

Domenico di Pace Beccafumi was an Italian Renaissance-Mannerist painter active predominantly in Siena. He is considered one of the last undiluted representatives of the Sienese school of painting.

MORE BY DOMENICO BECCAFUMI

VISUALLY SIMILAR

Similarity 100 percent

Reviews

Frequently asked questions

Who painted Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses?

Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses was painted by Domenico Beccafumi in 1525.

Where can I see Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses?

Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses?

Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses is associated with Mannerism.

Can I buy a print of Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses?

Museum-quality prints of Charity suckling a Child and Surrounded by Three Children Playing with a Dog and Hobby Horses are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.