Artwork
Maria mit Kind und Engel
Maria mit Kind und Engel is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Gerard Seghers. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The angel functions as a symbolic attendant, reinforcing the sacred narrative of the Holy Family and underscoring themes of intercession and divine favor.
The work portrays the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ, accompanied by a single angel, embodying the traditional Marian iconography of divine motherhood and heavenly protection. The angel functions as a symbolic attendant, reinforcing the sacred narrative of the Holy Family and underscoring themes of intercession and divine favor. Executed in oil on canvas in 1630, the painting measures 128 cm by 101 cm and resides in the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it is classified as a religious artwork.
Technique & Style
Created in 1630, Maria mit Kind und Engel is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 128 cm in height and 101 cm in width. As a religious painting by Gerard Seghers, the composition depicts the Madonna and Child accompanied by an angel.
The handling of the medium serves the genre's devotional purpose, presenting the sacred figures within a painted format typical of the period's religious art.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1630 by Gerard Seghers as an oil on canvas work depicting the Madonna and Child with an angel. It has been part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum's collection since its inception, remaining there as of the latest records. The piece measures 128 cm in height and 101 cm in width, reflecting its substantial Baroque composition and religious subject matter.
Gerard Seghers' painting Maria mit Kind und Engel is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. Created in 1630, the oil-on-canvas work depicts the Madonna and Child accompanied by an angel. The provided sources do not specify an inventory or accession number for the piece, nor do they document any exhibition history or past display locations.
Overview
Created in 1630 by Flemish artist Gerard Seghers, this oil painting portrays the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Christ, accompanied by a diminutive winged figure. The composition is set against a dark interior, with a brick wall visible on the right, and is part of the Flemish Baroque tradition. The work is currently owned by the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Context
The work belongs to the Flemish Baroque movement, which combined dramatic lighting with religious subject matter. Seghers, a leading figure among the Flemish Caravaggisti, integrated Italian influences with local devotional traditions. This painting exemplifies the period’s emphasis on intimate, emotionally resonant portrayals of holy figures for private contemplation.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Gerard Seghers (c. 17 March 1591 – 18 March 1651) was a Flemish painter, art collector, and art dealer. After a period of study and residence in Italy, he returned to Flanders where he became one of the leading…
