Artwork
Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1350 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This sculpture depicts a woman cradling a small child.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The anonymous artist utilized this composition to convey spiritual reverence through the intimate interaction between the two figures.
Created around 1350, this religious painting depicts the Madonna and Child, a central subject in Christian iconography. The work portrays the Virgin Mary holding the Christ Child, representing the theological concept of the Incarnation. As a piece of religious art housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the image serves as a devotional focus, emphasizing the maternal bond between Mary and Jesus.
The depiction aligns with traditional representations of the main subject, where Mary is shown as the mother of God, reinforcing her role within the narrative of salvation history. The anonymous artist utilized this composition to convey spiritual reverence through the intimate interaction between the two figures.
History & Provenance
The painting titled Virgin and Child is dated to approximately 1350. Created as a religious work, it depicts the Madonna and Christ Child. The artist remains anonymous, with no specific patron or commission details recorded in the available documentation.
The work is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 25.120.248. While the precise circumstances of its creation and original ownership chain are not detailed in the provided records, its classification as a religious painting from the mid-fourteenth century is established. The piece has been identified as part of the museum's holdings, representing a significant example of anonymous religious art from this period.
The painting Virgin and Child, created circa 1350 by an anonymous artist, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is cataloged under the accession number 25.120.248. While the available records confirm its location and inventory details within this major institution, no specific information regarding past exhibitions or loan history is provided in the current sources.
Overview
This sculpture depicts a woman cradling a small child. The figure is adorned with a crown and a flowing robe, which features deeply carved folds. The child stands upright on her left arm, gazing directly ahead.
The artwork exhibits signs of age, with its surface appearing worn and remnants of faded pigment visible on both the drapery and the faces.
Technique & Style
The sculptor rendered the Virgin's long robe with distinctive, angular folds that appear rigid and geometric rather than naturalistic. This stylistic choice contrasts with the softness typically associated with real fabric. The presence of residual color on the sculpture's surface suggests it was once adorned with paint, a common method for enriching the visual impact of carved figures.
Artist & collection
- Virgin and Child
Saint Eleuthere or Saint Rustique
Virgin and Child
Seated Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child
Standing Virgin and Child
Enthroned Virgin and Child
Standing Virgin and Child
St. John the Evangelist, probably from a Crucifixion Group
Enthroned Virgin and Child
Saint Eleuthere or Saint Rustique