Artwork

Madonna and Child in a Landscape

Madonna and Child in a Landscape, by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano, oil, 1498
Madonna and Child in a Landscape, by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano, oil, 1498

Madonna and Child in a Landscape is an oil painting by the High Renaissance artist Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano. It dates from 1498 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Created between 1496 and 1499, this oil painting on wood depicts the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Jesus.

About this work

This is a calm painting of Mary holding the Christ Child. It’s oil on wood from 1496, by Cima da Conegliano. The colors stay soft and quiet.

The artist worked in Venice around the same time as Giovanni Bellini. Both men painted the Madonna many times, but Cima’s way feels especially gentle.

Look up Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano next.

Subject & Meaning

The painting shows the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus within an open landscape, a composition that blends sacred intimacy with natural scenery.

The painting shows the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus within an open landscape, a composition that blends sacred intimacy with natural scenery. The infant is depicted on Mary's lap, emphasizing their tender relationship, while the surrounding setting reflects a devotional context common in Renaissance imagery. This work belongs to a series of at least five versions derived from a shared preparatory drawing, illustrating a rare instance of repetition in Cima da Conegliano's otherwise singular oeuvre.

The iconography underscores maternal care and divine tenderness, with the natural backdrop enhancing the spiritual symbolism of the holy family. The painting's dimensions measure 1098.6 by 876.3 units, recorded as part of its cataloging at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Scholarly assessments note the work's placement within the museum's collection and its significance as an example of late 15th-century Venetian religious painting, reflecting both devotional practices and artistic experimentation of the period.

Technique & Style

Madonna and Child in a Landscape is an oil painting on panel, executed by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano in 1496. The support consists of a wooden panel measuring 73 by 59 centimeters, as specified in the Italian Wikipedia source, though Wikidata lists dimensions as 1098.6 by 876.3 millimeters (approximately 109.9 by 87.6 cm), indicating possible discrepancies in recorded measurements or framing considerations. The handling demonstrates Cima’s characteristic precision, with delicate modeling of figures and meticulous attention to landscape details. The artist employed a cartoon to produce this composition, resulting in at least five variants, an unusual practice for Cima, who typically created unique works. Stylistically, the painting reflects the artist’s Venetian Renaissance approach, blending serene figural poses with a harmonious, atmospheric landscape backdrop.

History & Provenance

Madonna and Child in a Landscape was painted by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano between 1496 and 1499, executed in oil on panel. The work is dated to 1496 in the corpus record, while the encyclopedic sources extend the dating to the period 1496-1499. The painting is now held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Unusually for Cima da Conegliano, who typically produced unique compositions, this panel belongs to a group of at least five versions derived from a single preparatory cartoon. The sources do not document a specific commissioner, patron, or earlier ownership chain prior to the painting's entry into the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The painting *Madonna and Child in a Landscape* by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in Los Angeles. The work dates to the period between 1496 and 1499 and is executed in oil on panel. While the museum's official online catalog is referenced as a resource for the piece, the provided sources do not list a specific inventory or accession number for this artwork. Additionally, the available documentation contains no record of the painting's exhibition history or past display locations.

Context

Created between 1496 and 1499, Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano's *Madonna and Child in a Landscape* occupies a distinct position within the artist's oeuvre due to its unusual production method. While Cima typically generated unique compositions, this work belongs to a documented group of at least five paintings derived from a single cartoon. This replication marks a significant deviation from his standard practice of creating singular religious images.

The painting is currently held by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it serves as a key example of Cima's mature style in oil on panel. Its existence as part of a series highlights a specific moment in the artist's career where he adapted a successful design for multiple commissions, distinguishing it from his generally unique output.

Madonna and Child in a Landscape
Madonna and Child in a Landscape, Italian 15th Century

Artist & collection

Artist

Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano

Giovanni Battista Cima, also called Cima da Conegliano (c. 1459 – c. 1517), was an Italian Renaissance painter, who mostly worked in Venice. He can be considered part of the Venetian school, though he was also…

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Frequently asked questions

Who painted Madonna and Child in a Landscape?

Madonna and Child in a Landscape was painted by Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano in 1498.

Where can I see Madonna and Child in a Landscape?

Madonna and Child in a Landscape is held by Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

What movement is Madonna and Child in a Landscape?

Madonna and Child in a Landscape is associated with High Renaissance.

Can I buy a print of Madonna and Child in a Landscape?

Museum-quality prints of Madonna and Child in a Landscape are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.