Artwork
Madonna and Child
Madonna and Child is an oil painting by Antonello da Serravalle. It dates from 1451 and is held in the collection of the Walters Art Museum.
About this work
Overview
Antonello da Serravalle’s Madonna and Child, executed in oil around 1451, is part of the Walters Art Museum’s collection. The work presents a seated Virgin crowned and robed, cradling the infant Christ, set against a tranquil landscape that includes distant buildings, water and a lightly clouded sky. The composition conveys a quiet, devotional atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The central figures are the Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus, rendered with solemn expressions. Mary’s gaze falls gently toward the child, while the baby reaches toward her neck, suggesting an intimate bond and the theological theme of divine motherhood. The crowned head and modest attire underscore Mary’s status as both queen of heaven and humble mother.
Technique & Style
Rendered in oil on panel, the painting displays the early Renaissance interest in naturalistic detail and subtle modeling of flesh. Light falls softly across the figures, highlighting the folds of Mary’s dark robe over a lighter dress. The background landscape is rendered with restrained perspective, using muted tones to maintain the overall serenity of the scene.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1451, the work has remained in the public domain since its acquisition by the Walters Art Museum, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s European painting holdings. Documentation links the piece directly to Antonello da Serravalle, confirming its attribution and situating it within the artist’s mid‑15th‑century output.
Artist & collection
Artist
Antonello da Serravalle (1401–1600) was an artist, born in Vittorio Veneto.
