Artwork

Madonna med barnet omgivet af fire helgener

Madonna med barnet omgivet af fire helgener, by Unknown, 1850
Madonna med barnet omgivet af fire helgener, by Unknown, 1850

Madonna med barnet omgivet af fire helgener is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created around the middle of the nineteenth century, this oil painting portrays the Virgin Mary seated on a throne with the infant Jesus on her lap, encircled by four standing saints. The composition is framed by architectural elements such as arches and columns, while a distant landscape can be seen beyond the interior setting.

Subject & Meaning

The central focus on Mary and the child underscores their traditional role as intercessors in Christian devotion. The surrounding saints, each identifiable by their distinctive robes, hats, and attributes such as staffs or books, reinforce themes of piety and the transmission of spiritual authority across generations.

Technique & Style

Executed in a realistic manner, the work employs careful modeling of fabrics and facial features. Light and shadow are manipulated through chiaroscuro, giving the figures a three‑dimensional presence and enhancing the spatial depth created by the architectural backdrop.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the artist known as 1114_person, the painting dates to circa 1850. It entered the collection of the Museum of Ethnography, where it remains on display, providing insight into mid‑nineteenth‑century religious art within the institution’s holdings.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known