Artwork
The Virgin of the Chair
The Virgin of the Chair is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Guido Reni. It dates from 1624 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
A defining iconographic element of this specific work is the presence of a crown, which appears in the depiction alongside the holy figures.
Guido Reni's The Virgin of the Chair depicts the Madonna and Child, a central theme in religious art. The composition features the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, who is seated upon her lap. A defining iconographic element of this specific work is the presence of a crown, which appears in the depiction alongside the holy figures.
As a religious painting from 1624, the work represents the traditional veneration of the Virgin and Child, emphasizing their intimate bond through the physical arrangement of the figures.
Technique & Style
Guido Reni executed The Virgin of the Chair in 1624 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 213.8 cm in height and 137.5 cm in width, presenting a substantial scale for a religious composition. Stylistically, the painting depicts the Madonna and Child adorned with a crown, consistent with the artist's Baroque approach to sacred subjects.
The medium and dimensions reflect the formal characteristics of early 17th-century Italian religious art held in major collections.
History & Provenance
The Virgin of the Chair is an oil-on-canvas painting executed by Guido Reni in 1624. The work depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, both wearing crowns, and is classified within the genre of religious art. According to the available records, the painting is currently held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
The specific inception date is recorded as January 1, 1624. The canvas measures 213.8 cm in height and 137.5 cm in width.
Guido Reni's The Virgin of the Chair, executed in 1624, is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado in Madrid. The painting, an oil on canvas work depicting the Madonna and Child with a crown, measures 213.8 cm in height and 137.5 cm in width. While the artwork is confirmed as part of the Prado's holdings, the provided sources do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for the piece. Additionally, the available documentation offers no details regarding a specific exhibition history for this work.
Overview
Guido Reni’s oil painting, The Virgin of the Chair, was executed in 1624 and is now part of the collection at the Museo del Prado. The work presents a seated female figure in a red garment and blue mantle, cradling a barefoot child who gazes upward, while two diminutive winged beings hover nearby, one bearing a golden crown.
Context
Created during the height of the Baroque period, the work aligns with contemporary religious art that emphasized emotional engagement and dramatic lighting. Reni’s composition echoes the Counter‑Reformation’s call for clear, affective imagery, while his graceful figures retain the classical idealism that characterized his broader oeuvre.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Guido Reni was an Italian Baroque painter, although his works showed a classical manner, similar to Simon Vouet, Nicolas Poussin, and Philippe de Champaigne.
