Who painted Madonna and Child?

Madonna and Child was painted by Unknown in 1750.

Where can I see Madonna and Child?

Madonna and Child is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

Artwork

Madonna and Child

Madonna and Child is a paint painting by Unknown. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

This modestly sized work, executed in opaque watercolor on paper around 1750, portrays a seated Madonna in a red robe cradling the infant Christ. A secondary figure stands nearby, offering a dish of fruit, while a faint golden halo crowns the mother’s head. The composition is set against a simple backdrop of blue sky, a solitary tree and a strip of grass, and shows signs of edge wear.

Subject & Meaning

The central theme follows the traditional Christian iconography of the Virgin and Child, emphasizing maternal devotion and the infant’s serenity. The attendant’s presentation of fruit may allude to the themes of abundance and the future harvest of salvation, reinforcing the painting’s devotional purpose.

Technique & Style

Rendered in opaque watercolor, the artist applied a flat, bright palette without pronounced chiaroscuro, resulting in a surface that lacks deep modeling. Gold detailing accents the halo and certain decorative elements, while the overall handling is straightforward, reflecting a folk or devotional aesthetic common in mid‑eighteenth‑century religious works.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1750, the work’s provenance is not documented beyond its material and stylistic attributes. Its paper support and modest dimensions suggest it was intended for private devotion rather than public display, a typical function for such intimate religious images in the period.