Artwork
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Boccaccino Boccaccio. It dates from 1512 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses entirely on these two figures, representing the maternal bond between the mother of Jesus and her son.
Created in 1512 by Boccaccio Boccaccino, this oil painting on panel depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, a central theme in religious art known as the Madonna and Child. The composition focuses entirely on these two figures, representing the maternal bond between the mother of Jesus and her son. Unusually for this specific iconography, the work also includes a bird within the scene alongside the holy figures.
As a piece of religious genre painting, the image serves as a devotional representation of the Incarnation, emphasizing the humanity and divinity of Christ through his interaction with his mother. The work is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1512 by Boccaccio Boccaccino, this religious work is an oil painting created on a wooden panel support. The composition measures 50.8 cm in height and 35.6 cm in width, depicting the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child alongside a bird. As a panel painting utilizing oil pigments, the piece reflects the material conventions of early sixteenth-century Italian devotional art.
History & Provenance
The painting known as Madonna and Child was created in 1512 by the artist Boccaccio Boccaccino. Executed in oil on a wooden panel, the work depicts the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child, accompanied by a bird. The specific commission details and original patron remain unrecorded.
The artwork is currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which lists it as a significant example of religious art from this period. The physical dimensions of the panel measure 50.8 centimeters in height and 35.6 centimeters in width. No further details regarding its ownership chain prior to museum acquisition are provided in the available records.
Overview
This oil painting, titled Madonna and Child, was created by the artist Boccaccino Boccaccio in 1512. It is a religious work depicting the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus. The artwork is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it represents a significant example of early 16th-century Italian painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Boccaccio Boccaccino (about 1466 to about 1525) was an Italian Renaissance painter active chiefly in Cremona, where he became the leading master of the local school.
