Artwork
Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child is a print by the Renaissance artist Andrea Mantegna. It dates from 1488 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Andrea Mantegna's Virgin and Child is a 15th-century painting exemplifying the artist's technical skill and classical influences.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts the Virgin Mary seated with the Christ Child, rendered in a tender and intimate scene. The Virgin's crossed legs and gentle cradling of the Child convey a sense of maternal affection.
Technique & Style
Mantegna's use of line and shading creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, with intricate folds in the Virgin's robes contrasting with the smooth, rounded face of the Child. The artist's characteristic sculptural approach to figures is evident in the work's three-dimensional quality.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the collection at the Cleveland Museum of Art, and dates to around 1488, a period when Mantegna was active in Venice.
Artist & collection
Artist
Andrea Mantegna (UK: , US: ; Italian: ; c. 1431 – September 13, 1506) was an Italian Renaissance painter, a student of Roman archaeology, and the son-in-law of Jacopo Bellini. Like other artists of the time, Mantegna…
