Lehman Madonna

The Lehman Madonna is executed in tempera on panel, a medium characteristic of fifteenth-century Venetian painting, and dates to circa 1470. Its composition centers on the Madonna and Child, framed by a garland of orange-hued gourds suspended behind the Virgin’s head; these motifs carry symbolic weight, with the gourds identified as Balsam Pear and linked to resurrection imagery, while the fruit at right may signify the Eucharist or the Fall of Man. The handling reveals Bellini’s early engagement with Andrea Mantegna’s Paduan stylistic influence, evident in the linear precision and sculptural modeling of the figures.

As of 2018, the painting remained in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art but was not on view.

Executed circa 1470, this tempera-on-panel work by Giovanni Bellini represents an early phase of the artist's career, notably reflecting the influence of his brother-in-law, Andrea Mantegna. The painting's documented modern history begins in 1911 at the Villa San Mauro in Rieti, Italy. By June 1916, the work had been acquired by the banker Philip Lehman.

Following Philip's ownership, the piece passed to his son, Robert Lehman. In 1975, Robert Lehman bequeathed the painting, along with his broader collection, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where it remains part of the permanent holdings. While the work entered the museum's collection in the mid-1970s, records indicate it was not on public view as of 2018.

The Lehman Madonna is currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The work entered the museum's collection in 1975 as part of the bequest from Robert Lehman, bearing the accession number 1975.1.81. Prior to this transfer, the painting was acquired by Philip Lehman in or before June 1916 after being recorded at Villa San Mauro in Rieti, Italy, in 1911.

Regarding its exhibition history, the work was included in the exhibition titled "Mantegna and Bellini." However, as of 2018, the painting is not on public view at the museum.

Dating to approximately 1470, the Lehman Madonna is recognized by scholars as an early work by Giovanni Bellini that clearly demonstrates the artistic influence of his brother-in-law, the Paduan painter Andrea Mantegna. Art historical analysis of the composition highlights specific iconographic details, such as the orange gourds in the background garland which symbolize the Resurrection. Further scholarship by Levi d'Ancona has identified the specific gourd on the left as a Balsam Pear.

The fruit depicted to the right is interpreted as either a cherry, representing the Eucharist, or an apple, alluding to the Fall of Man. This painting is situated within Bellini's broader output of Madonna and Child subjects, marking a significant phase in his development where Mantegna's stylistic impact was predominant.

The Lehman Madonna is an early work by the Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini, created around 1470. This tempera-on-panel painting depicts the traditional Christian subject of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus. It exemplifies Bellini's artistic development during a period when he was absorbing influences from other significant artists, laying groundwork for his mature style.