Artwork
Virgin and Child
Virgin and Child is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Francesco Solimena. It dates from 1727 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.
About this work
Overview
Francesco Solimena's *Virgin and Child* (1727) is an oil painting depicting a serene maternal scene, characteristic of the Rococo movement's emphasis on intimacy and delicacy.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays the Virgin Mary with the Christ Child, conveying a sense of tender devotion through their gentle interaction. Mary's downward gaze and the Child's upward look establish a warm, personal connection.
Technique & Style
Executed in Solimena's later, more restrained classicist style, the work features soft, delicate facial expressions and a subdued color palette, notably the deep red of Mary's dress against the nude Child.
History & Provenance
Created in 1727 by the Italian painter Francesco Solimena, the work is now part of the Fitzwilliam Museum's collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Francesco Solimena (4 October 1657 – 3 April 1747) was a prolific Italian Baroque painter, one of an established family of painters and draughtsmen.
