Artwork
Mary and Christ child
Mary and Christ child is an oil painting by the Venetian Renaissance artist Niccolo Rondinelli. It dates from 1500 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Christ, a conventional Madonna and Child composition that emphasizes maternal tenderness and the Incarnation. By focusing on Mary as a nurturing mother, the work conveys themes of divine protection and human vulnerability, aligning with typical iconography of early Renaissance devotional imagery. The depiction follows established symbolic conventions in which the child's gesture and Mary's gaze signal both humanity and holiness, reinforcing the sacred narrative within a religious context.
Technique & Style
The painting measures 77 cm in height and 57 cm in width, reflecting the modest scale often employed for private devotional images of the period.
The work is an oil painting executed on a wooden panel, a technique typical of early 16th-century Italian art. The composition portrays the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ Child, rendered in a straightforward, devotional style. The painting measures 77 cm in height and 57 cm in width, reflecting the modest scale often employed for private devotional images of the period. It is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection and is classified as a religious work.
History & Provenance
"Mary and Christ Child" is an oil painting on panel executed by Niccolò Rondinelli around 1500, measuring 77 cm × 57 cm. The work belongs to the religious genre and portrays the Virgin Mary with the infant Christ. The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it forms part of the museum's holdings of Italian Renaissance devotional works. No specific accession number or earlier ownership history is recorded in the available sources.
Overview
Niccolò Rondinelli, an Italian painter active primarily in Ravenna, created Mary and Christ Child around 1500. This oil painting exemplifies the religious themes prevalent during the Venetian Renaissance. The composition features the Virgin Mary tenderly holding the Christ Child, set against a tranquil landscape.
Rondinelli, a pupil of Giovanni Bellini, contributed to the era's tradition of refined devotional imagery. The work is currently part of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
Context
Niccolò Rondinelli was active during the Venetian Renaissance, a period renowned for its sophisticated religious art. As a pupil of the influential Giovanni Bellini, Rondinelli absorbed the stylistic innovations of his master, particularly in the rendering of light, color, and devotional subjects. His work, including Mary and Christ Child, reflects the artistic currents of late 15th and early 16th-century Venice, emphasizing spiritual contemplation through serene and beautifully executed compositions.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Niccolò Rondinelli (c. 1468 – c. 1520) was an Italian painter of the Renaissance period, active mainly in Ravenna, where he was born. He was a pupil of the painter Giovanni Bellini. Also called Nicolo or Niccoló…
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