Who painted Mary with the Christ-child?

Mary with the Christ-child was painted by Jan Gossaert in 1527.

Where can I see Mary with the Christ-child?

Mary with the Christ-child is held by Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

What movement is Mary with the Christ-child?

Mary with the Christ-child is associated with Early Baroque Italian.

Can I buy a print of Mary with the Christ-child?

Museum-quality prints of Mary with the Christ-child are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Mary with the Christ-child

Jan Gossaert , 1527

Mary with the Christ-child is a paint painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Jan Gossaert. It dates from 1527 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1527, Mary with the Christ-child is an oil painting by Jan Gossaert (also known as Jan Mabuse), a prominent figure in the Romanism movement that blended Italian Renaissance influences with northern European art. The work is now part of the collection at the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, emphasizing a pivotal moment of Christian iconography. Mary's attire, a blue dress, white shawl, and red cloak, contrasts with the Christ Child's simple white tunic, drawing attention to their interaction. The Child's gaze towards Mary adds a sense of intimacy.

Technique & Style

Gossaert employed chiaroscuro to achieve a profound sense of depth and volume, set against a dark background that accentuates the figures. This technique, characteristic of the early Baroque Italian period, highlights the sculptural quality of the subjects.

History & Provenance

Following Gossaert's influential trip to Italy and Rome (1508–09), Mary with the Christ-child reflects his adoption of Renaissance elements. The painting's current location is the Gemäldegalerie Berlin, though its history prior to acquisition is not detailed here.

Context

As a work of the Romanism movement, Mary with the Christ-child illustrates the fusion of northern European artistic traditions with the compositional and lighting innovations of the Italian Renaissance, appealing to both regional and international tastes of the time.

Legacy

While specific direct influences of Mary with the Christ-child on later artists are not highlighted in available information, Gossaert's overall contribution to bridging Italian and northern European artistic practices remains significant in the evolution of Early Baroque styles.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Jan Gossaert

Jan Gossaert (c. 1478 – 1 October 1532) was a French-speaking painter from the Low Countries also known as Jan Mabuse (the name he adopted from his birthplace, Maubeuge) or Jennyn van Hennegouwe (Hainaut), as he called…