Triptych of the Virgin and Child with Saints
1510
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
1510
oil
From the collection of Art Institute of Chicago
The painting shows Mary, the queen of heaven, surrounded by female saints in a garden. It's a special kind of garden called a hortus conclusus, which means "enclosed garden". This garden is thought to represent paradise, a safe and beautiful place. The painting has some interesting details, like the tiny figures of Saint Ursula's companions on the right side. These small figures show what happened to Saint Ursula on her pilgrimage to Rome. You can see more paintings like this one by learning about the technique of glazing.
