Virgin and Child
1434
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1434
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Virgin and Child is a 1434 unspecified by Rossello di Jacopo Franchi, a Early Renaissance work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
The painting shows the Virgin Mary holding a baby Jesus. She wears a deep blue robe with gold edges. The Christ Child clutches a small swallow in his left hand. This bird wasn’t just decoration. Swallows vanish in winter and return in spring, so people saw them as symbols of rebirth. The painting was likely the center of an altarpiece before it was cut into an octagon. Look up Rossello di Jacopo Franchi (Italian, c.1376–1457) to see more of his work.
In his left hand the Christ Child holds a swallow. Swallows were thought to hibernate during winter in nests of mud. Their re-emergence in spring symbolized the Resurrection of Christ. This painting was probably the central panel of an altarpiece. After the altarpiece was broken up, the work was cut into its present octagonal shape.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Rossello di Jacopo Franchi (c. 1376/77 – c. 1456) was a Florentine Renaissance painter, active from about 1408 until 1451.
See the richer artist page
![Madonna and Child, with the Blessing Christ [middle panel]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/02357aa6ff04175b/thumb.webp)
