Artwork
Maria mit Kind (Pommersfeldener Madonna)
Maria mit Kind (Pommersfeldener Madonna) is an oil painting by the Early Baroque Italian artist Cornelis van Cleve. It dates from 1545 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Cornelis van Cleve, a Flemish painter active in the mid‑16th century, executed the oil painting known as *Maria mit Kind (Pommersfeldener Madonna)* in 1545. The work presents a seated Virgin Mary with the infant Christ and is currently part of the Alte Pinakothek’s collection in Munich.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a woman in a green dress with a gold shawl, seated on a draped bench, holding a partially nude child who reaches toward her hand. Their calm expressions and intimate proximity suggest a contemplative moment of maternal devotion, a common theme in devotional imagery of the period.
Technique & Style
Van Cleve employs a clear chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts between the illuminated figures and the darkened wall behind them. The handling of oil paint renders soft flesh tones and the texture of the fabrics, while the muted background recedes, focusing attention on the interaction between mother and child.
History & Provenance
Trained in his father Joos van Cleve’s workshop, Cornelis later worked briefly in London before returning to the Low Countries. The painting entered the Alte Pinakothek’s holdings in the 19th century, where it has remained on display as an example of his religious output and the early Baroque influence from Italy.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cornelis van Cleve, Cornelis van Cleef or Cornelis van der Beke, nickname Sotte Cleve ('Mad Cleve') (1520 in Antwerp – 1567/1614) was a Flemish Renaissance painter active in Antwerp who is known for his religious compositions and portraits.
