Who painted Madonna with Flower Vase?

Madonna with Flower Vase was painted by Barthel Beham in 1529.

Where can I see Madonna with Flower Vase?

Madonna with Flower Vase is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Madonna with Flower Vase?

Madonna with Flower Vase is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Madonna with Flower Vase

Barthel Beham , 1529

Madonna with Flower Vase is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Barthel Beham. It dates from 1529 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Barthel Beham’s engraving titled *Madonna with Flower Vase*, dated to around 1529, presents a quiet domestic scene of a mother and child. Executed on laid paper, the print measures a modest size typical of early‑Renaissance devotional images and reflects the period’s interest in intimate, personal representations of sacred subjects.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows a woman, identified as the Virgin, cradling an infant in a tender pose. She wears a modest head covering and a gown with puffed sleeves, while the child is nude save for a simple cloth at the waist. The surrounding curtain adorned with floral motifs suggests a private, enclosed space, emphasizing the personal bond between mother and child.

Technique & Style

Beham employs fine cross‑hatching to model the figures’ forms, creating subtle gradations of light and shadow across skin, fabric, and background. The delicate line work conveys texture in the veil, the softness of the infant’s skin, and the intricate pattern of the floral curtain, exemplifying the meticulous draftsmanship characteristic of German Renaissance printmaking.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1529, the engraving belongs to the early phase of Beham’s career when he was active in Nuremberg. Though specific ownership records are scarce, the work circulated among collectors of religious prints in the 16th century and later entered museum collections as an example of Northern Renaissance devotional art.