Artwork
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Bernardino de' Conti. It dates from 1519 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of breast-feeding underscores themes of nurture and the Incarnation, reinforcing the theological concept of God becoming man.
The painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, a conventional Christian subject known as the Madonna and Child. Mary is shown in a tender moment, breastfeeding the infant Jesus, a motif emphasizing her maternal role and the humanity of Christ. This iconography aligns with late medieval and Renaissance traditions that humanize the divine figures, fostering emotional connection and devotion among viewers.
The inclusion of breast-feeding underscores themes of nurture and the Incarnation, reinforcing the theological concept of God becoming man. As a religious genre work from 1519, the painting serves a devotional purpose, inviting contemplation on the bond between mother and child and its spiritual significance.
Technique & Style
Created in 1519, Bernardino de' Conti's Madonna and Child is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support. The work measures 39.7 cm in height and 29.5 cm in width. As a religious painting, it depicts the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the Christ Child, a composition characteristic of the artist's devotional output.
The medium and support are consistent with early 16th-century Italian panel painting practices. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its physical dimensions and material composition are documented. The handling of the oil medium allows for the detailed rendering of the figures within the small-scale format.
History & Provenance
Created in 1519, this oil painting on panel was executed by the Italian artist Bernardino de' Conti. The work, depicting the Madonna breastfeeding the Christ Child, measures 39.7 by 29.5 centimeters. While specific details regarding its original commission or early ownership history are not provided in the available records, the painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
The piece is classified as a religious genre work and remains attributed to Conti based on its inception date and stylistic characteristics associated with the artist's output during the early sixteenth century.
The painting is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its accession number is 14.40.680, assigned upon entry into the museum’s collection. The work has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; it was shown in the 2018 installation “The Renaissance Nude” as part of the museum’s ongoing display of European paintings.
Context
The Madonna and Child by Bernardino de’ Conti (1519) has been situated within the Lombard tradition of devotional painting, where intimate, humanized depictions of the Virgin and Child were emphasized. Contemporary scholarship notes the work’s alignment with late Quattrocento–early Cinquecento Milanese practices, particularly in its soft modeling and restrained palette, which reflect the lingering influence of Leonardo da Vinci’s sfumato on Lombard artists. The painting’s modest scale and domestic intimacy align it with private devotional contexts rather than grand altarpieces, a format favored in Milan during the early 16th century.
Its inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection underscores its recognition as a representative example of Bernardino de’ Conti’s oeuvre and the broader Lombard religious tradition of the period.
Overview
Bernardino de' Conti, an Italian Renaissance painter, rendered this Madonna and Child in oil paint. Though born in 1519, his work reflects the High Renaissance period, a time when he was recognized for his portraits and religious compositions. The painting portrays the Virgin Mary nursing the Christ Child, a common devotional image.
Conti's artistic approach was shaped by the influence of Leonardo da Vinci. This artwork is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Bernardino de 'Conti (di Conti or dei Conti) was an Italian Renaissance painter, born in 1465 in Castelseprio and died around 1525.
