Artwork
The Virgin and Child
The Virgin and Child is a paint painting by the High Renaissance artist Bartolomeo Veneto. It dates from 1515 and is held in the collection of the Gemäldegalerie Berlin.
About this work
Overview
Bartolomeo Veneto, an Italian painter active from the early to mid‑16th century, completed the work titled *The Virgin and Child* in 1515. Executed in oil on panel, the painting belongs to the High Renaissance period and is part of the collection of the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a seated woman in a yellow garment cradling a barefoot infant. The child reaches toward an object held in the mother’s hand, suggesting a moment of curiosity and learning. The figures are set against a dark ground that isolates them, while a distant landscape with a river, trees, a castle, and riders adds narrative depth.
Technique & Style
Veneto employs a clear chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to model the forms and give them three‑dimensional presence. The handling of flesh tones and the delicate rendering of fabrics reflect the influence of his early training with Gentile Bellini and later exposure to Leonardo’s sfumato.
History & Provenance
After its creation, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Gemäldegalerie, Berlin, where it remains on public display. Documentation traces its ownership through the 19th and early 20th centuries, confirming its attribution to Bartolomeo Veneto.
Context
The work reflects the cross‑regional activity of its creator, who worked in Venice, the Veneto, and Lombardy. By 1515, Venetian art was increasingly integrating Leonardesque compositional balance and naturalism, trends evident in the intimate interaction between mother and child.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bartolomeo Veneto (active 1502–31) was an Italian painter who worked in Venice, the Veneto (the mainland), and Lombardy.
