Artwork
Girl with Cherries
Girl with Cherries is an oil painting by the Early Renaissance artist Marco d'Oggiono. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Girl with Cherries is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support, measuring 49 centimeters in height and 38 centimeters in width.
Girl with Cherries is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support, measuring 49 centimeters in height and 38 centimeters in width. The work is classified as a portrait that also incorporates genre art elements, depicting a girl holding cherries. Stylistically, the piece reflects the handling characteristics associated with the Lombard school during the late 15th century.
While historically attributed to Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis, current scholarship often links the work to Marco d'Oggiono, dating its creation to approximately 1491. The painting remains in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its material composition and formal qualities continue to define its status as a significant example of Italian Renaissance portraiture on panel.
History & Provenance
The painting known as Girl with Cherries is dated to 1491 and executed in oil on panel. While early attributions linked the work to Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis, current scholarship identifies Marco d'Oggiono as the creator, though some records continue to list both artists. The work depicts a girl holding cherries and measures 49 by 38 centimeters.
Regarding its provenance, the piece is held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Ownership records also indicate a connection to Michael Mucklow Zachary. The specific commission details and the full chain of custody prior to its arrival at the museum are not detailed in the available records, but the work remains a significant portrait from the late 15th century attributed to the Milanese school.
The painting Girl with Cherries is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Its inventory/accession number is not specified in the provided sources. The work was previously owned by Michael Mucklow Zachary. Exhibitions of the painting are not documented in the given sources.
Context
Girl with Cherries, an oil-on-panel portrait dated to 1491, is currently attributed to Marco d'Oggiono, though it was formerly ascribed to Giovanni Ambrogio de Predis. This reattribution situates the work within the broader circle of Leonardo da Vinci's followers in late 15th-century Milan, reflecting the stylistic fluidity and collaborative practices of that era. The painting's transition in scholarly attribution from de Predis to d'Oggiono highlights ongoing critical debates regarding authorship among Leonardo's direct students.
While specific critical reception details are not elaborated in the provided records, the work's inclusion in major institutional collections and its classification as both a portrait and genre art underscore its significance in understanding the development of Lombard Renaissance portraiture. The piece remains a key example for studying the dissemination of Leonardesque motifs in the immediate post-1490 period.
Overview
Girl with Cherries is an early Renaissance oil painting from 1496 by Marco d’Oggiono, a Milanese artist known as a prominent follower of Leonardo da Vinci. This portrait depicts a young woman holding a sprig of cherries, rendered with notable realism. The artwork is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, showcasing a blend of Northern Italian artistic traditions and the influence of Leonardo's innovative techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a young woman with distinctive red-gold hair, adorned with a simple gold necklace and a jeweled headband. She is dressed in a brown gown with a blue sash and a red sleeve trimmed with white fur. Her hands delicately hold a bowl filled with vibrant green leaves and ripe red cherries, which appear remarkably fresh and lifelike.
The specific symbolism of the cherries in this context is open to interpretation, often associated with fertility or innocence.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Marco d'Oggiono (c. 1470 – c. 1549) was an Italian Renaissance painter and a chief pupil of Leonardo da Vinci, many of whose works he copied.
