Artwork
Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child is an oil painting. It dates from 1475 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
It is an Early Netherlandish work dated to 1475, executed in oil on panel, and belongs to the religious genre.
The painting portrays the Virgin Mary nursing the infant Christ, a motif identified as the Nursing Madonna. It is an Early Netherlandish work dated to 1475, executed in oil on panel, and belongs to the religious genre. The composition reflects the devotional focus on maternal care characteristic of the period.
The work was owned by collector Jules Bache and is now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, underscoring its importance within the corpus of Virgin and Child imagery.
Technique & Style
Created in 1475 by the Workshop of Dieric Bouts, this Early Netherlandish religious painting is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel support. The work measures 29.2 centimeters in height and 21 centimeters in width. Stylistically, it depicts the Nursing Madonna, a specific iconographic type showing the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the Christ Child.
The handling of the oil medium on the panel allows for the detailed rendering of the figures within this intimate devotional composition. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1475, this oil painting on panel is attributed to the Workshop of Dieric Bouts. The work depicts the Nursing Madonna, a specific religious genre within Early Netherlandish painting. Regarding its ownership history, the piece was formerly in the collection of Jules Bache.
It currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is maintained as part of their holdings. The panel measures approximately 29.2 by 21 centimeters. While the specific original commissioner is not detailed in the available records, the dating places its production firmly in the mid-1470s.
The painting titled Virgin and Child, attributed to the Workshop of Dieric Bouts and dated to 1475, is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, executed in oil paint on panel, measures 29.2 cm in height and 21 cm in width. It was formerly part of the private collection of Jules Bache before entering the museum's holdings.
As an Early Netherlandish religious work depicting the Nursing Madonna, the piece remains a significant part of the museum's inventory, though specific accession numbers or detailed exhibition histories are not provided in the available records.
Context
The work, dated 1475 and executed in oil on panel, belongs to the Early Netherlandish tradition and is classified as a religious painting of the Virgin and Child genre. Attributed to the Workshop of Dieric Bouts, it exemplifies the movement’s emphasis on intimate devotional scenes, particularly the Nursing Madonna motif. Its depiction of the Virgin breastfeeding the Christ Child reflects contemporary devotional practices and has been noted by scholars for its naturalistic rendering and emotional realism.
The painting entered the collection of Jules Bache and was later donated to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on display. Its stylistic features and provenance illustrate the diffusion of Early Netherlandish motifs into Northern European art.
Overview
This painting, titled Virgin and Child, depicts a tender moment between a woman and a young child. Executed in oil paint, the composition centers on the figures, rendered with a serene demeanor. The work showcases a traditional religious subject, emphasizing the intimate bond between the mother and her infant, set against a richly decorated backdrop.
Artist & collection
