Artwork

Madonna and Child

Madonna and Child, by Unknown, 1509
Madonna and Child, by Unknown, 1509

Madonna and Child is a photography by Unknown. It dates from 1509 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created around 1509, this devotional image portrays the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1509, this devotional image portrays the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. Its composition centers on a quiet, intimate encounter between mother and child, set against a softly rendered landscape that includes hills, trees and distant mountains beneath a cloudy sky.

Subject & Meaning

The painting presents Mary in a red robe and blue mantle, gently supporting the naked Christ. Her eyes are closed and her gaze is directed downward, suggesting a moment of private contemplation and maternal tenderness. The serene atmosphere conveys themes of divine love, protection, and the humanity of the infant deity.

Technique & Style

The artist employs a warm palette, contrasting the deep red of the robe with the cool blue of the cloak, while the landscape background is rendered in muted earth tones. Soft modeling of the figures and a subtle handling of light create a sense of volume and intimacy, and the composition guides the viewer’s eye toward the central figures.

History & Provenance

Attributed to the anonymous hand known as 1548_person, the work dates to the early sixteenth century. It entered the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display as part of the institution’s religious art collection.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known