Artwork
Standing Virgin and Child
Standing Virgin and Child is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1350 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This painting presents a full-length depiction of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Madonna and Child, a foundational subject in religious art in which the Virgin Mary holds or presents the Christ Child.
The painting depicts the Madonna and Child, a foundational subject in religious art in which the Virgin Mary holds or presents the Christ Child. Classified as a religious work, the composition presents Mary in a standing pose with the infant Jesus, a format commonly used in devotional images to emphasize the Virgin's role as the mother of God and to invite the viewer's veneration.
Dated to 1350, the work belongs to the long medieval tradition of Marian imagery that flourished in devotional painting, where the standing Virgin and Child served both as a focus of personal piety and as a theological statement about the Incarnation. The image situates Mary as the bearer of the Savior, an iconographic theme intended to convey maternal tenderness alongside divine majesty.
History & Provenance
The Standing Virgin and Child is an anonymous religious painting dated to 1350. Created as a devotional image depicting the Madonna and Child, the work measures 127 cm in height. It is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
No specific details regarding the original commission, the identity of the artist, or the chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are provided in the available records.
The painting Standing Virgin and Child is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created around 1350, this religious work depicts the Madonna and Child. The piece measures 127 cm in height.
While its current location is established, the provided records do not list a specific inventory number or detail any past exhibitions for this anonymous work.
Overview
This painting presents a full-length depiction of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child. The composition focuses solely on the two figures, rendered with a sense of quiet dignity and tender connection. The artist emphasizes their human qualities through careful observation and a restrained emotional palette, inviting contemplation of the sacred bond between mother and son.
Technique & Style
The artwork employs a realistic approach to render the figures, showcasing meticulous attention to anatomical detail and drapery. The artist's skillful application of color contributes to a perception of depth, while the interplay of light and shadow enhances the three-dimensional quality of the forms. These technical choices collectively evoke a sense of emotional resonance and presence within the confined space of the composition.
Artist & collection
