Who painted Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate?

Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate was painted by Francesco di Gentile.

Where can I see Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate?

Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate is held by Philadelphia Museum of Art.

What movement is Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate?

Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate is associated with Early Renaissance.

Artwork

Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate

Francesco di Gentile

Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate is an unspecified painting by the Early Renaissance artist Francesco di Gentile. It is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Francesco di Gentile’s *Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate* presents a quiet devotional scene in which the Virgin Mary cradles the infant Christ. The work is part of the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of early Renaissance religious painting.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on Mary, robed in black with gold‑embroidered trim and a red veil dotted with gold stars, holding a pomegranate—a symbol of resurrection and eternal life. The Christ Child, crowned with a halo and seated on a red cushion, mirrors the fruit in his own hand, reinforcing the theological link between the fruit’s seeds and the promise of salvation.

Technique & Style

Executed in tempera on panel, the painting employs a restrained palette of deep reds, blacks, and gold accents. The figures are rendered with delicate modeling, and the stone archway in the background provides a simple architectural framework that frames the intimate interaction between mother and child.

History & Provenance

Created by the Florentine painter Francesco di Gentile in the early 15th century, the work entered the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s holdings through a mid‑20th‑century acquisition. Its provenance prior to museum ownership is documented only in broad terms, reflecting the limited archival record for many works of this period.

Artist & collection

Artist

Francesco di Gentile

Italian painter Francesco di Gentile made delicate altar panels in the 1400s. His Virgin and Child with a Pomegranate shows the Madonna holding the Christ child while he clutches a ripe pomegranate—a symbol of life and…