Artwork
Madona cu pruncul
Madona cu pruncul is an unspecified painting by the Mannerist artist Pietro di Cristoforo, zis Il Perugino Vanucci. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Timișoara National Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Madona cu pruncul, attributed to Pietro di Cristoforo Vannucci, known as Il Perugino, is an oil painting dating from around 1650. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography and depicts a seated mother figure cradling an infant within a modest interior that opens onto a distant, rocky landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a woman in a dark blue cloak over a red dress, holding a small child on her lap. The infant gazes calmly at his mother, suggesting a tender, intimate moment that reflects traditional devotional themes of the Virgin and Child, emphasizing maternal affection and spiritual serenity.
Technique & Style
The artist employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, with soft illumination on the woman's face contrasting against deep shadows that define the edges of her cloak. This handling of light and darkness creates a three‑dimensional presence, while the muted background landscape recedes, reinforcing the focus on the figures.
History & Provenance
Although the painting bears a date later than Il Perugino’s lifetime, it is catalogued as a work by the master and has been held by the Museum of Ethnography for several decades. Its provenance prior to museum acquisition remains undocumented in the available records.
Context
The work aligns with the broader tradition of Marian imagery prevalent in post‑Renaissance Italy, where the Virgin and Child were rendered with increasing naturalism and emotional intimacy. The use of a simple, rocky backdrop reflects a shift toward more modest, contemplative settings in devotional art of the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pietro di Cristoforo, zis Il Perugino Vanucci
This Umbrian painter of the late 1400s made calm, balanced Madonnas with softly modeled faces and gentle colors, following the traditions of the early Italian Renaissance.
