Artwork
Lucca Madonna
Lucca Madonna is a mixed painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Jan van Eyck. It dates from 1437 and is held in the collection of the Städel Museum.
About this work
The work’s size and panel shape suggest it was meant for private devotion and may have been the inner panel of a triptych.
The Lucca Madonna is an oil painting by Jan van Eyck, dated around 1437. It shows Mary seated on a wooden throne, crowned by a canopy, breastfeeding the infant Christ.
The work’s size and panel shape suggest it was meant for private devotion and may have been the inner panel of a triptych. Its mixed technique adds subtle depth to the scene.
You can see more of Jan van Eyck’s work at the Städel Museum.
Overview
The Lucca Madonna is a painting by Jan van Eyck, created around 1437, utilizing a mixed technique. The work depicts a serene scene of Mary breastfeeding the infant Christ, seated on a wooden throne under a canopy.
Subject & Meaning
The painting focuses on an intimate moment of the Virgin Mary nursing Jesus, conveying devotion and maternal care. The composition emphasizes the sacredness of the moment through the regal yet gentle portrayal of Mary.
Technique & Style
Van Eyck's mixed technique, combining oil painting with other media, achieves subtle depth and texture, characteristic of Early Netherlandish art. The detailed, realistic rendering of the throne, canopy, and figures is typical of his meticulous style.
History & Provenance
Originally possibly the inner panel of a triptych, as suggested by its carpentry, the painting's small size indicates its intended use for private religious practice. It is now part of the Städel Museum's collection in Frankfurt.
Context
Created in the 15th century, the Lucca Madonna reflects the devotional practices of the time, where small, intricate artworks were used for personal prayer and reflection in domestic settings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan van Eyck ( van EYEK; Dutch: ; c. before 1390 – 9 July 1441) was an early Netherlandish painter active in Bruges who was one of the early innovators of what became known as Early Netherlandish painting, and one of…
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