Who painted Madonna mit Kind?

Madonna mit Kind was painted by Bernardino Butinone in 1496.

Where can I see Madonna mit Kind?

Madonna mit Kind is held by Pinacoteca di Brera.

What movement is Madonna mit Kind?

Madonna mit Kind is associated with Northern Renaissance.

Artwork

Madonna mit Kind

Bernardino Butinone , 1496

Madonna mit Kind is a tempera painting by the Northern Renaissance artist Bernardino Butinone. It dates from 1496 and is held in the collection of the Pinacoteca di Brera.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1496 by the Milanese painter Bernardino Butinone, this tempera panel portrays the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus. The work belongs to the Northern Renaissance tradition and is part of the collection of the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan. Its modest dimensions focus attention on the intimate exchange between mother and child, set against a muted backdrop.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows Mary seated, draped in a red garment beneath a dark blue mantle, holding a small book in her left hand. The Christ Child rests on her right arm, reaching outward toward his mother, while his gaze meets hers. The serene expressions and downward‑directed eyes convey a contemplative devotion, emphasizing the theological bond between the divine and humanity.

Technique & Style

Executed in tempera, the painting displays the medium’s characteristic fine brushwork and luminous layers. Butinone employs a restrained palette, allowing the dark background to recede and the figures to emerge with subtle modeling. The delicate handling of light on the fabrics and the gentle modeling of flesh reflect the Northern Renaissance’s attention to detail and material realism.

History & Provenance

Bernardino Butinone, active in late‑15th‑century Milan, produced the panel for an unknown devotional setting. Over the centuries it entered the holdings of the Pinacoteca di Brera, where it remains on public view. Its provenance traces a typical path for regional religious works, moving from private or ecclesiastical ownership into a state museum collection.