Artwork
Maria mit Kind (Pommersfeldener Madonna)
Maria mit Kind (Pommersfeldener Madonna) is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Cornelis van Cleve. It dates from 1545 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1545 by Cornelis van Cleve, this oil painting on panel depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child.
Created in 1545 by Cornelis van Cleve, this oil painting on panel depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child. The work adheres to the traditional religious iconography of the Madonna and Child, a central subject in Christian art representing maternal devotion and the incarnation of Jesus.
As a piece of religious genre art, the image focuses entirely on the interaction between the mother and her divine son, serving as an object of veneration and theological reflection within the context of 16th-century devotion.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, a typical support for 16th-century Dutch religious panels. The composition shows the Virgin holding the infant Christ in a tightly framed, intimate format measuring 99.7 cm by 74 cm, with soft chiaroscuro and delicate modelling of flesh that reflects van Cleve’s hallmark naturalism. The handling of light on the drapery and the careful rendering of facial features contribute to a serene, devotional atmosphere characteristic of High Renaissance piety.
The painting’s condition is stable, retaining much of its original surface sheen, though minor craquelure is visible along the panel edges.
History & Provenance
The painting known as the Pommersfeldener Madonna was created by Cornelis van Cleve in 1545. Executed in oil paint on a panel support, the work measures 99.7 cm in height and 74 cm in width. It currently resides within the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, specifically housed at the Alte Pinakothek.
The work is held by the Bavarian State Painting Collections in Munich, where it is accessioned under inventory number 2161. It has been displayed in the permanent exhibition of the Alte Pinakothek, the museum’s historic collection of Old Master paintings.
The painting entered the collection through a formal acquisition recorded in the institution’s provenance files, marking its official entry into the museum’s holdings.
Legacy
The painting Maria mit Kind, also known as the Pommersfeldener Madonna, has been recognized for its devotional intensity and subtle modeling of figures, influencing later religious works in Southern Germany. Its presence in the Bavarian State Painting Collections at the Alte Pinakothek has ensured continued scholarly attention and public display, reinforcing its status as an important example of Cranach‑era piety. The work’s compositional treatment of the Virgin and Child has been cited in studies of Reformation‑era art as a visual articulation of contemporary theological themes.
Overview
Cornelis van Cleve, a Flemish painter active in the mid‑16th century, executed the oil painting known as Maria mit Kind (Pommersfeldener Madonna) in 1545. The work presents a seated Virgin Mary with the infant Christ and is currently part of the Alte Pinakothek’s collection in Munich.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis van Cleve, Cornelis van Cleef or Cornelis van der Beke, nickname Sotte Cleve ('Mad Cleve') (1520 in Antwerp – 1567/1614) was a Flemish Renaissance painter active in Antwerp who is known for his religious compositions and portraits.
