Artwork
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child is an oil painting. It dates from 1450 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays the mother and son in an intimate composition, emphasizing their familial bond while simultaneously representing their theological roles.
This mid-15th-century panel painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, a central subject in Christian religious art known as the Madonna and Child. The work portrays the mother and son in an intimate composition, emphasizing their familial bond while simultaneously representing their theological roles. As an image based on traditional iconography of the Madonna with Child, the painting serves as a devotional object focused on the humanity and divinity of Jesus and his mother.
The depiction aligns with the religious genre prevalent in the circle of Giovanni Bellini, where such images were intended to inspire contemplation of the sacred narrative.
Technique & Style
Created in 1450, this religious painting is executed in oil paint on a panel support. The work measures 66 cm in height and 48 cm in width. Stylistically attributed to the circle of Giovanni Bellini, the piece depicts the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child.
The handling of the medium on the wooden panel reflects the artistic practices of the period within the Northern Renaissance tradition.
History & Provenance
The work titled Madonna and Child was executed circa 1450 as an oil painting on panel. It belongs to the circle of Giovanni Bellini and draws on the motif of an earlier Madonna with Child composition. The painting was classified as a religious work and is recorded in the Rijksmuseum collection, where it remains on display in Amsterdam.
Its dimensions measure 66 cm in height and 48 cm in width. The attribution to the Bellini circle and its based-on relationship with a prior Madonna with Child image inform its creation history, while the current ownership reflects its inclusion in the museum’s holdings.
Overview
This oil painting, titled Madonna and Child, depicts a tender interaction between a woman and a young boy. The composition places the figures prominently in the foreground, set against a serene, expansive landscape. The artist utilizes oil paint to render the scene, emphasizing the emotional connection between the two subjects through their poses and expressions. The work exemplifies a common devotional theme, presented with a focus on human intimacy and naturalistic detail.
Artist & collection
Woman with a Parasol - Madame Monet and Her Son
Mrs. Noah Smith and Her Children
Madonna and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist
The Alba Madonna
Madame Georges Charpentier and her Children
Mrs. Francis Brinley and Her Son Francis
Mrs. Mayer and Daughter
Madame Philippe Panon Desbassayns de Richemont (Jeanne Eglé Mourgue, 1778–1855) and Her Son, Eugène (1800–1859)