Artwork
Jomfru Maria giver Kristusbarnet die
Jomfru Maria giver Kristusbarnet die is a paint painting. It dates from 1763 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The work depicts a kneeling woman cradling an infant swaddled in cloth, set upon a patterned floor.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1763, this religious painting depicts the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the Christ Child, a subject traditionally known as the Madonna and Child.
Created in 1763, this religious painting depicts the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the Christ Child, a subject traditionally known as the Madonna and Child. The work specifically illustrates the act of nursing, emphasizing the humanity and physical dependency of the infant Jesus on his mother. By focusing on this intimate moment, the iconography underscores the theological concept of the Incarnation, where the divine takes on human flesh and requires maternal care.
The composition serves as a visual representation of maternal devotion and the sacred bond between mother and son within the Christian tradition.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting on panel measuring 53 cm by 39 cm, created in 1763. It portrays the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ, a composition typical of religious art from the period. The surface shows smooth brushwork and careful rendering of drapery, reflecting the formal stylistic conventions of Danish ecclesiastical painting in the mid‑18th century.
History & Provenance
The painting titled Jomfru Maria giver Kristusbarnet die was created in 1763. It is an oil painting on panel measuring 53 cm in height and 39 cm in width. The work depicts the Madonna and Child, a central subject in religious art.
The piece is currently held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. The artist remains unidentified in available records, often referred to simply as "Ubekendt" (Unknown) in museum documentation.
The painting Jomfru Maria giver Kristusbarnet die is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. The work is cataloged under the inventory number KMS 3448. Created in 1763, the piece depicts the Madonna and Child and remains part of the museum's permanent holdings.
Overview
The work depicts a kneeling woman cradling an infant swaddled in cloth, set upon a patterned floor. She is clothed in a voluminous robe whose drapery gathers in soft folds, while a darkened interior with tall panels and a doorway frames the scene, creating a secluded atmosphere. A focused light source illuminates the figures, separating them from the surrounding shadow.
Context
Executed in oil on canvas, the piece aligns with the Baroque tradition of intimate religious scenes that focus on personal devotion. The enclosed setting, muted palette, and use of chiaroscuro reflect contemporary artistic practices aimed at evoking emotional engagement and spiritual reflection within a private, contemplative space.
Artist & collection
- Virgin and Child
Mary enthroned with the Christ child
Maria mit Kind
Maria mit Kind (Kopie nach einem verlorenen Original) (Kopie nach)
Virgin and Child
Madonna and Child
Maria met slapend kind op de arm
The Virgin Holding The Child with both Hands
Mary with the Child
The Nativity
The Virgin and Child
Madonna and Child