Artwork
The Virgin and Child adored by Saint Louis, King of France
The Virgin and Child adored by Saint Louis, King of France is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Claudio Coello. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition places the holy family at the center while the monarch kneels in reverence, emphasizing his role as a devout protector of the faith.
The Virgin and Child adored by Saint Louis, King of France depicts the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ, who are both presented to the French king Louis IX, identifiable by his crown, sceptre, sword and body armor. The composition places the holy family at the center while the monarch kneels in reverence, emphasizing his role as a devout protector of the faith. The royal regalia and armor serve as iconographic symbols of earthly authority exercised under divine sanction, linking the French crown to the sacred lineage of the Capetian dynasty.
Executed in oil on canvas in 1665 by Claudio Coello, the work functions as a visual affirmation of the alliance between monarchy and Church.
Technique & Style
The Virgin and Child adored by Saint Louis, King of France is an oil painting executed on canvas by Claudio Coello in 1665. The work measures 229 cm in height and 249 cm in width, presenting a substantial religious composition. Stylistically, the piece depicts the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child alongside Louis IX of France, who is portrayed wearing body armor and holding a sword, sceptre, and crown.
The medium of oil on canvas allows for the detailed rendering of these royal and sacred attributes within the religious genre.
History & Provenance
The Virgin and Child adored by Saint Louis, King of France is an oil on canvas painting executed in 1665 by the Spanish Baroque artist Claudio Coello. The work measures 229 cm by 249 cm and portrays the Virgin, the Christ Child, and the French king Louis IX wearing regalia of sovereignty. It entered the Spanish royal collection, where it was owned by King Ferdinand VII, and was subsequently incorporated into the Museo del Prado, which now houses the painting. The composition reflects contemporary devotional practices and the political symbolism associated with Saint Louis.
The Virgin and Child adored by Saint Louis, King of France is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain. The work is currently located within the Royal Palace of Madrid. While the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available records, the painting was historically owned by Ferdinand VII of Spain.
The artwork was created in 1665 and depicts religious figures including Mary, the Christ Child, and Louis IX of France. No specific exhibition history is detailed in the provided sources.
Overview
Claudio Coello, a prominent Spanish painter of the late 17th century, completed The Virgin and Child adored by Saint Louis, King of France in 1665. This oil painting depicts a sacred encounter between the Virgin Mary, the Christ Child, and Louis IX, the canonized French monarch. The work exemplifies Coello's religious output and is now housed in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Claudio Coello (2 March 1642 – 20 April 1693) was a Spanish-Portuguese Baroque painter.
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