Artwork
Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child is a tempera painting by the Early Renaissance artist Icilio Federico Joni. It dates from 1453 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This painting, titled Virgin and Child, depicts a central religious theme rendered in tempera. The composition features a female figure cradling an infant, set against a background that emphasizes their forms. The artwork exhibits characteristics of its age, with visible signs of wear and a palette dominated by deep blues, gold accents, and muted skin tones.
Subject & Meaning
The infant reaches towards a red piece of fruit held by the woman, suggesting an interaction between the two figures.
The artwork presents a woman, draped in a dark cloak and a light head covering, holding a young child. The infant reaches towards a red piece of fruit held by the woman, suggesting an interaction between the two figures. This gesture, often interpreted as symbolic, draws attention to the child's engagement with the world. The figures are highlighted by golden star motifs and a subtly rendered background.
Technique & Style
Executed in tempera, a medium common before the advent of oil painting, this work utilizes pigments bound with egg yolk and water. This technique typically results in a durable, quick-drying, and matte surface, allowing for fine detail. The painting's current state reveals its age through areas of flaking and darkening, yet the original simple color scheme of dark blues, golds, and soft flesh tones remains discernible, contributing to its distinct visual character.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
![Madonna and Child, with the Blessing Christ [middle panel], by Pietro Lorenzetti](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/pietro-lorenzetti--madonna-and-child-with-the-blessing-christ-middle-panel--02357aa6ff04175b-w320.webp)